HIV/AIDS in Africa

WHEREAS, President Bush, in his State of the Union Address, called for spending $15 billion over the next five years to combat the spread of HIV/AIDS in Africa and the Caribbean; and

WHEREAS, President Bush's proposal included $10 billion in funding along with five billion dollars scattered in a variety of current programs; and

WHEREAS, White House budget requests for the current fiscal year, as well as budget proposals for fiscal year 2004, fall short of the two billion dollars a year the president's proposal suggests is needed; and

WHEREAS, both old and new HIV/AIDS money totals just $1.9 billion for 2003, less that $500 million of which is new; and

WHEREAS, the pledge made by the President of the United States of America is a noble and just cause; and

WHEREAS, the NAACP believes the pledge needs to be honored by Congress.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the NAACP urge President Bush to follow through on his pledge and submit the budget request to Congress that includes his original $15 billion plan; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the NAACP urge Congress to fund the $15 billion request to fight the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Africa.