Pocan, Kelly, 109 Add’l House Democrats Urge Immediate Restoration of PEPFAR

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representatives Mark Pocan (WI-02) and Robin Kelly (IL-02) led 109 of their colleagues in a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, urging him to restore essential HIV and AIDS services and expressing deep concern about the impact of the foreign aid funding pause on global health programs, particularly the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).

“We write to express deep concern about the impact of the foreign aid funding pause on global health programs, particularly the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR),” the Members wrote. “We urge that essential HIV and AIDS services continue uninterrupted; a halt in these services threatens millions of lives, undermines decades of progress, and diminishes U.S. leadership in global health security and diplomacy.”

“PEPFAR’s success in preventing and treating HIV is not only essential to global health but also a key component of U.S. diplomatic ‘soft power’ and a testament to America’s forward thinking,” the Members continued. “Suspending these essential services creates openings for adversaries such as China and Russia to expand their influence in regions critical to U.S. strategic interests, including Sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia, potentially costing American jobs and diminishing our technological edge in healthcare innovations. This aid freeze endangers both health outcomes and our country’s credibility as a global leader.”

“PEPFAR is a cornerstone of global health progress and U.S. diplomacy, with bipartisan support spanning decades. This highly successful and impactful bilateral aid program represents the monumental goodwill of the American people. We urge the Administration to take swift action to prevent disruptions in these essential services. PEPFAR is the single best example of U.S. foreign assistance that makes America safer, stronger, and more prosperous. The lives of millions of people — and America’s standing in the world — depend on it continuing,” the Members concluded.

A full copy of the letter can be found here.

The list of signers includes: Mark Pocan (WI-02), Robin Kelly (IL-02), Alma Adams (NC-12), Gabe Amo (RI-01), Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), Jake Auchincloss (MA-04), Becca Balint (VT-At Large), Nanette Barragan (CA-44), Donald Beyer (VA-08), Sanford Bishop (GA-02), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Brendan Boyle (PA-02), Julia Brownley (CA-26), Andre Carson (IN-07), Troy Carter (LA-02), Ed Case (HI-01), Sean Casten (IL-06), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), Judy Chu (CA-28), Gil Cisneros (CA-31), Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Emanuel Cleaver (MO-05), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Gerry Connolly (VA-11), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Jason Crow (CO-06), Danny Davis (IL-07), Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Diana DeGette (CO-01), April McClain Delaney (MD-06), Chris Deluzio (PA-17), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Dwight Evans (PA-03), Bill Foster (IL-11), Valerie Foushee (NC-04), Laura Friedman (CA-30), John Garamendi (CA-08), Robert Garcia (CA-42), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05), Al Green (TX-09), Raul Grijalva (AZ-07), Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06), Glenn Ivey (MD-04), Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Hank Johnson (GA-04), Julie Johnson (TX-32), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), William Keating (MA-09), Tim Kennedy (NY-26), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Greg Landsman (OH-01), John Larson (CT-01), George Latimer (NY-16), Stephen Lynch (MA-08), Seth Magaziner (RI-02), Doris Matsui (CA-07), Sarah McBride (DE-At Large), Jennifer McClellan (VA-04), Betty McCollum (MN-04), Jim McGovern (MA-02), LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), Gwen Moore (WI-04), Kelly Morrison (MN-03), Jared Moskowitz (FL-23), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Kevin Mullin (CA-15), Jerrold Nadler (NY-10), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-At Large), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), Chris Pappas (NH-01), Scott Peters (CA-50), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Mike Quigley (IL-05), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Emily Randall (WA-06), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Deborah Ross (NC-02), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Linda Sanchez (CA-38), Janice Schakowsky (IL-09), Terri Sewell (AL-07), Brad Sherman (CA-32), Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Greg Stanton (AZ-04), Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), Eric Swalwell (CA-14), Mark Takano (CA-39), Bennie Thompson (MS-02), Dina Titus (NV-01), Jill Tokuda (HI-02), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Ritchie Torres (NY-15), Sylvester Turner (TX-18), Juan Vargas (CA-52), Nydia Velazquez (NY-07), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25), Maxine Waters (CA-43), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Nikema Williams (GA-05), and Frederica Wilson (FL-24).

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.