HIV protesters occupy House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s office: Seven arrested as activists get on their knees and chant

A group of protesters stormed Kevin McCarthy’s office on Capitol Hill on Monday, demanding that he reauthorize PEPFAR, the HIV/AIDS relief program.

“McCarthy – pass PEPFAR now,” they shouted and chanted as they sat on the ground.

U.S. Capitol Police removed them from McCarthy’s office in the Rayburn House Office Building, across the street from his official speaker’s office in the Capitol building.

The seven protesters, some wearing T-shirts that read HIV Positive and waving signs calling for “an end to AIDS,” were handcuffed and taken away.

It is unlikely that McCarthy was in that office as he usually works from the Capitol, but his staff did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com’s request. Monday is the day that members of the House of Representatives return to Washington DC after their summer vacation.

PEPFAR, a critically acclaimed global program started by President George W. Bush, has become embroiled in the fight against abortion. The deadline for reauthorization is September 30.

PEPFAR, also known as the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, fights AIDS and HIV and the virus they cause in areas of the developing world. It provides funding for prevention, treatment and medication.

PEPFAR funds are credited with saving 25 million lives around the world. The funds are spread across Africa, Asia and the Caribbean.

The activists – from Health GAP (Global Access Project), a nonprofit organization that advocates for people living with HIV, and Housing Works, a group dedicated to ending homelessness and AIDS – posted videos and photos of their protest on social media.

‘This global AIDS program has saved 25 million lives. We need a clean five-year reauthorization from Congress,” Housing Works posted online.

But some conservative Republicans argue that money from the nearly $7 billion annual budget goes to abortion providers.

President Joe Biden’s administration, the program’s leaders and outside experts strongly deny this.

However, Republican Rep. Chris Smith of New Jersey, who heads the subcommittee that oversees PEPFAR, is leading the charge to halt the program’s extension until the anti-abortion restrictions the Biden administration lifted in 2021 are lifted restored.

These restrictions prevented groups using PEPFAR funds from discussing abortion as an option.

Democrats argue that any pause in funding could hurt those fighting the virus.

McCarthy, meanwhile, is dealing with a full plate.

As lawmakers return to Capitol Hill this week, he must fund the government before a Sept. 30 deadline, deal with a White House request for more aid to Ukraine and appease conservatives who want to begin impeachment proceedings against President Joe Biden.

He balances several balls in the air as the fall session begins.

He became chairman after a deal with the conservative wing of the Republican Party established a list of demands: including the ability to quickly vote to “vacate the seat” and remove him from office.

Now that threat hangs like a sword of Damocles over McCarthy’s every move.

If Congress does not pass a bill to fund the government by the end of the month, a partial shutdown will occur. Given Congress’ schedule, there are only eleven business days to do that.

Conservatives are pushing for massive cuts in federal spending. Democrats, who control the Senate, strongly oppose them.

McCarthy could gain control of the right wing by launching an impeachment investigation into Biden and his role in his son Hunter’s business dealings.

The White House has said Biden is not involved in his son’s business dealings.

But former President Donald Trump still has many allies in the Capitol who want to see the current president experience what the last one experienced. They claim the Biden family has enriched itself because Biden is the vice president.

Republicans have not yet been able to provide evidence of President Biden’s wrongdoing.

The White House is pushing Congress to approve a temporary funding measure to keep the government open through the end of the year, requesting $16 billion in disaster relief funds and $24 billion for Ukraine.

Many Republicans oppose funding for Ukraine, but could reach a compromise if McCarthy makes progress on the impeachment.

The House of Representatives, controlled by Republicans by a slim 222-212 majority, has passed only one appropriations bill so far.

The Senate plans to move forward with bipartisan bills on Monday. Senators from both parties hope floor action will give them the upper hand in negotiations with the House of Representatives.