GAA Saddened by Rep. Lantos’ Passing
Global AIDS Alliance Executive Director Dr. Paul S. Zeitz made the following statement:
"The Global AIDS Alliance is saddened by the death this morning of Rep. Tom Lantos. Our organization worked closely with Chairman Lantos and his staff on US policy regarding global poverty issues, particularly global AIDS, gender, and access to basic education.
Chairman Lantos was an indispensable leader in the field of global AIDS and poverty. He was steadfast in arguing that human rights must be at the core of development policy. He was crucial to ensuring that the Congress authorized the spending needed to succeed on AIDS, including helping orphaned and vulnerable children.
The fight against HIV/AIDS has lost a real hero. His leadership will be sorely missed. To preserve his legacy, we must ensure that policy on global AIDS meets the high standards he would have demanded.
Later this week the House Foreign Affairs Committee is scheduled to consider Lantos' HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria bill. To honor him, we should pass this bill and ensure that US policy on AIDS is bold and effective."