2008: PEPFAR Reauthorization
This year, Congress is acting to revise and reauthorize the PEPFAR program. On April 2, 2008, the House authorized $50 billion dollars to combat HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria by a vote of 308 to 116. The Senate is expected to vote on its version of the bill this spring.

Lawmakers should remove language restricting the participation of family planning organizations in providing HIV prevention, counseling and testing services to those compliant with the global gag rule, and support voluntary contraceptive services for HIV positive women. Specifically, the words “as supported by the US government” in the House version of the bill should be removed from wherever they appear in reference to family planning programs that expand HIV education, counseling and testing services. 

Why is it important to encourage collaboration between family planning and HIV prevention services? Infection rates are growing most rapidly among women and older adolescents, who often seek family planning services. In many communities, family planning organizations are well established and can serve as trusted gateway to essential information on HIV prevention as well as provide HIV counseling and testing.   

A few family planning opponents have undermined the effort to use established family planning programs to encourage better HIV prevention work. The current PEPFAR bill includes language suggesting that only family planning programs compliant with the global gag rule are eligible for PEPFAR funding. This provision remains unclear and will certainly cause more problems than solutions during program implementation.