Washington, DC — Although President George W. Bush is scheduled to announce support on Tuesday for legislation approved by a Congressional committee authorizing funding for a five-year US$15bn plan to fight HIV/Aids around the world, conservatives are continuing efforts to derail the Republican-sponsored legislation during debate before the full Congress.
The president's endorsement, scheduled for a Rose Garden event in the White House, has angered members of the Pro-Life Caucus in the House of Representatives, who plan to offer amendments placing a stronger emphasis on abstinence and reducing emphasis on condoms. They also favor a"conscience clause" that will permit religious organizations opposed to the use of condoms or abortions to proselytize against them without penalty. That clause would also state that opponents of condoms cannot be forced to distribute them nor can opponents of abortion be forced to offer counseling on abortion.
Conservatives remain strongly opposed to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and plan to offer an amendment limiting the U.S. contribution to the fund to US$200m. The Global Fund has approved an initial round of project proposals totaling US$616 million, about two-thirds of which is earmarked for treatment and prevention of HIV/Aids. Many of those programs could fund needle programs and abortion, conservative critics charge.
And in a further attempt to reduce available money, conservatives want the annual commitment to all U.S. programs against HIV/Aids limited to US$2bn, effectively reducing by US$5bn, President Bush's January State of the Union proposal of US$15bn for five years to fight HIV/Aids.
Taking an unusual stance of disagreement with key sections of his conservative base, Bush has been signaling for weeks that he is willing to accept legislation that does not include anti-condom and anti-abortion provisions. White House officials say that while Bush would support amendments emphasizing abstinence and strengthening religious exemptions, his main focus is getting legislation consistent with what he has proposed to fight the HIV/Aids pandemic.
"We're pleased that the House is moving quickly on the legislation. We will work closely with the Congress on the exact language," White House spokesman Ari Fleischer told reporters on Friday. Fleischer added: "We want to make sure that the president has the flexibility and the authority to implement the program the way it was outlined."
The legislation, voted out of the House International Relations Committee chaired by Henry Hyde (R-Ill) on April 2, will be debated on the floor Thursday. "It's a real date," said one congressional aide who also said that "each side" will be permitted to offer three amendments.
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Without the President's support, however, adoption of what the conservative critics want is not expected. A conscience clause has the best chance, say analysts. Anticipating that the argument against proselytizing against condoms and abortions has significant support, Democrats are readying their own expanded conscience clause. It could simply recognize that "conscience" was at play on both sides of the issue and that speaking up for condom use should also be recognized as a matter of conscience.
Democrats are also considering offering an amendment aimed at educating men and boys on the causes of HIV/Aids.
The debate will not end with Thursday's vote. The legislation must still pass the Senate where, so far, many of these same issues have kept it stalled. After that, any emerging Senate bill must be reconciled with the House bill before legislation reaches the president's desk for signing into law.
