PEPFAR

Floor Speech

PEPFAR -- (Senate - July 14, 2008)

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Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I would like to respond to the Senator from Arizona. I don't quarrel with his premise that we need to spend a lot more money when it comes to Native Americans. Senator BYRON DORGAN tried valiantly for months to bring Indian health care to the floor. He ran into a lot of obstacles. I think all of us believe when it comes to Native Americans, there is a lot more we need to do. But it strikes me as fundamentally unfair to argue that money should be taken from fighting a global epidemic of HIV/AIDS, the problem of tuberculosis and malaria, and divert that money and put it into help for Native Americans.

Has America reached that point? Is that what the choices have come to, that we cannot join the world in trying to stop this global AIDS epidemic to the extent we know is necessary?

If there is anyone who believes that the $50 billion over 5 years suggested in this bill is adequate to the challenge, they haven't sat down to take an honest look. This is indeed a global epidemic. There are parts of this bill that have been criticized by some. I would like to address one of them. It is the argument that somehow we have gone adrift. We are no longer talking about prevention and medication, but we are talking about unrelated elements. One criticism is that this bill addresses the global AIDS epidemic in terms of food and water. I can tell you point blank that the best medicine in the world is no help to a person who is suffering from malnutrition or a person whose water supply is contaminated, making them sick when they take the expensive drugs.

I have seen it in Africa, where people receiving the antiretroviral medications are wasting away because of malnutrition. We can't save their lives from starvation simply by stopping the onset of HIV infection. So we need, if we are going to do this honestly, to take a serious and comprehensive look at the challenge.

This is a rarity in a way, that the Members on the Democratic side and the overwhelming majority on the Republican side are of one mind. We support the President. The President was right when he initiated the PEPFAR Program to deal with global AIDS and the global fight to address those countries that are not part of PEPFAR. But we need to come together now and try to pass this bill for the President and, more importantly, for those who are the victims of this global epidemic.

I will be the first in line when Senator Kyl offers his amendment to help those Native Americans who are being shortchanged and deprived because of our inadequate funding. But at the risk of being slightly political for a moment, were we not fighting a war in Iraq that costs $10 billion to $15 billion a month, there would be a lot more to spend in America. That war, which is now in its sixth year, with no end in sight, has drained our Treasury of over $700 billion that could have been spent for curing diseases, dealing with Native Americans in the United States, expanding education, expanding health care and clinics in our own country, more medical research. Instead, we have been shoveling this money as fast as we can out of our Treasury into Iraq and making it part of our permanent national deficit. That is the reality of what we face.

It is hard to imagine that Iraq, an oil-rich country, one of the richest in the world with oil, is still waiting on U.S. taxpayers to spend more money to help them out of the current problems they face. It is time for the Iraqis to step up and defend their own country, govern their own country, and spend their own money on their own problems.

After almost 6 years, it is overdue. If they do that, there would be a lot more money in the United States for our priorities. A strong America begins at home. It begins by bringing this war to an end, bringing our combat troops home.

When we have suggestions from the Iraqis that it is time for America to leave, I think we ought to take them. We ought to start bringing our brave men and women, who have risked their lives, home to the hero's welcome they deserve. Waiting for another 10, 20, 50, or 100 years, as some have suggested, is ludicrous. The United States cannot afford it, and it is no favor to Iraq to create that kind of long-term dependency.

I sincerely hope we can resolve this. I hope we can pass the President's bill. I support it. I hope there is adequate bipartisan support. Then when Senator Kyl and others come forward and ask us to find money to help Native Americans, they can count on many of us on the Democratic side.

Mr. KYL. Will the assistant minority leader yield for one quick point?

Mr. DURBIN. Of course.

Mr. KYL. Having mentioned my name and alluded to the fact that we had a hard time getting the Indian health bill to the floor, I hope my colleague would acknowledge the fact that one of the people central in getting that bill to the floor and getting it passed was the Senator from Arizona. It was because of my strong commitment to get that done. I will work with anybody, not only to deal with the Indian health matter but also local law enforcement and the water development problems that we talked about with Native Americans. I know my colleague understands that is my position.

Mr. DURBIN. There is no question of the Senator's sincerity. Senator Dorgan tried to lead the fight on this side, and Senator Kyl was a great help in that regard. Let the record be clear. If there is to be future help for Indian Health Services and other Native American needs, I am certain the Senator from Arizona will be part of that effort.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

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