Elton John tells Congress to continue funding Biden’s fight to end AIDS and thanks lawmakers for supporting them in rare cases
- British music star Elton John testified before senators on the fight against AIDS
- The campaigner and fundraiser said now was not the time to give up the fight
- Congress must reauthorize a multibillion-dollar program to fight the disease
British pop star Elton John on Wednesday urged US senators not to give up on the fight against HIV and AIDS as Congress approaches the September deadline for reauthorizing the multibillion-dollar program to fight the disease.
“There is no better symbol of American greatness than PEPFAR, and you should all be very proud of your extraordinary efforts,” he said during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on the renewal of the US president’s emergency plan to fight AIDS ( PEPFAR).
The Tiny Dancer singer has raised hundreds of millions of dollars through his foundation to fight AIDS.
And in February, he traveled to South Africa to see for himself the impact of PEPFAR, which has reportedly saved 25 million lives since 2003.
The program is expected to be re-approved for another five years. But that could be undermined by partisan squabbles over raising the federal debt limit and cutting spending.
British pop star Elton John on Wednesday urged senators not to give up on the fight against AIDS as Congress approaches a deadline for reauthorizing a multibillion-dollar program
John, who wore rose-colored glasses as he addressed senators via video link from the UK, said now was not the time to slow down.
“We have to keep our foot on the accelerator. We’ve come so far in such a short time, relatively. By extending PEPFAR for another five years and fully funding it, together we can continue the march towards ending AIDS for everyone everywhere and leaving no one behind,” he said.
PEPFAR was founded in 2003 under then-President George W. Bush.
In the early years, the requirement that a third of spending go to premarital abstinence programs drew criticism before that provision was dropped in 2008.
Since then, it has been endorsed by both Republican and Democratic presidents, and has broad bipartisan support in Congress.
And it has contributed more than $100 billion to the global fight against HIV and AIDS.
John said it was an “inspiring effort.”
John, who wore rose-colored glasses as he addressed senators via video link from the UK, said now was not the time to slow down in the global fight to end HIV and AIDS
The U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief was created in 2003 by President George W. Bush. In February, he celebrated his 20th birthday at the Peace Institute in Washington
“I think we can get out of this together,” he said.
‘I really believe that. But we have a lot of work to do.’
Senator Bob Menéndez, the committee’s Democratic chairman, praised his commitment to the cause.
“Some people use their fame in a way that only suits them,” he said.
“Others use their fame in a way that saves the lives of others.”
The top Republican on the committee, Senator Jim Risch, said, “I urge my colleagues to work with me to reauthorize PEPFAR without delay and without new mandates and guidelines.”