WASHINGTON—Representative Eliot L. Engel, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and a top member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Health, today made the following statement marking World AIDS Day:

“On World AIDS Day, we remember those we’ve lost, reflect upon the progress we’ve made, and renew our commitment to defeating HIV/AIDS once and for all. Thanks to U.S. initiatives such as PEPFAR and the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, people living with HIV/AIDS around the world can have normal lifespans. But our work is far from finished.

“Historically, the fight against HIV/AIDS has been bipartisan. Sadly, the Trump Administration has marred this history by advancing harmful policies, including the Global Gag Rule and repeal of the Affordable Care Act, that would turn back the clock. We cannot afford to move backward if we hope to end AIDS in our lifetimes.”

Background:

In September 2013, Rep. Engel introduced the PEPFAR Stewardship and Oversight Act (H.R.3177), which extended key aspects of the President’s PEPFAR program for five years.  President Obama signed identical legislation (S.1545) into law a day after World AIDS Day 2013. 

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