July 11, 2008

Washington, D.C. – Nevada Senator Harry Reid made the following statement today after the Senate reached an agreement to move forward on PEPFAR, the Global AIDS bill:

“The Senate today reached an agreement to move forward on the PEPFAR bill, demonstrating our commitment to helping nations fight the terrible scourge of HIV/AIDS, a pandemic that takes the lives of 8,000 African every day.  We have negotiated in good faith, overcame Republican objections and reached an agreement that allows 10 Republican amendments to a bill that will provide tens of billions of dollars over five years to combat HIV and AIDS, including $5 billion for orphans and vulnerable children.  This program has had already a positive impact on the lives of tens of millions of Africans, and I look forward to a full debate of this bill on the Senate floor.”