Recommendations for the State of the Union
MEMORANDUM
DATE: February 20, 2009
TO: White House Staff
FROM: Dr. Paul Zeitz, Global AIDS Alliance
RE: Recommendations for the State of the Union
The State of the Union address presents President Obama with the opportunity to outline the priorities of the new Administration. President Obama and key members of the Administration have already made multiple commitments to effective multilateralism, specifically to providing a fair-share contribution to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, closing the global education deficit by establishing a Global Fund for Education, and realizing the Millennium Development Goals. Recommitting to these initiatives during the State of the Union will demonstrate to the world that the US intends to engage with the rest of the world with compassion and to lead the global community in its effort to achieve these goals.
As a partner of the Administration in our shared objective of ending the global HIV/AIDS pandemic and providing hope and a seat in the classroom to all of the world's children, we urge President Obama to recommit to the following initiatives during the State of the Union:
• The US will continue to lead the world in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Specifically, the US will provide its fair-share contribution to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, beginning with a $2.7 billion contribution in FY10, and will continue to prioritize full funding for PEPFAR to achieve universal access to HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, and care. This will enable the US to prevent 12 million new HIV infections by 2013.
• The US intends to commit $2 billion to the establishment of a Global Fund for Education in FY10. Prioritizing universal quality basic education reflects a broader commitment to poverty-reduction, improved health outcomes, better governance, and increased economic growth. Establishing a Global Fund for Education will accelerate progress toward education for all, helping to achieve universal basic education, supporting early childhood development, and providing the gift of literacy to the one billion people around the world who cannot read.
• The US will double foreign assistance by 2012 as part of our efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. In order to effectively advance America's ideals and interests, as well as effectively respond to the challenges of global poverty, global health, and universal basic education, the US must increase its support, beginning in FY10, for these critical, lifesaving programs, with the goal of doubling all foreign assistance by 2012.
For additional information, attached please find Global AIDS Alliance's letter to President Obama outlining our specific appropriations asks for FY10.
Sincerely,
Paul Zeitz
Executive Director
Global AIDS Alliance
1121 14 Street NW, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20005