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PSI Picks Up More Congressional Support
WASHINGTON, DC, July 26, 2005 — Sen. Larry E. Craig, R-Idaho, a
senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, has added his
voice to legislators supporting PSI's HIV/AIDS prevention work — which
has been the target of unfair and ill-informed attacks written by several
members of Congress — in a letter to Andrew S. Natsios, administrator
of the U.S. Agency for International Development.
Sen. Craig is the third Republican senator to state publicly his support
for PSI's HIV/AIDS programs and to urge continued U.S. government support
for PSI. Senators Orrin Hatch of Utah and Gordon Smith of Oregon also
wrote to Natsios in April 2005 expressing their knowledge of, and support
for, PSI's effective and cost-efficient contributions to HIV prevention.
"There have been some suggestions that the U.S. should fund activities
ostensibly to prevent AIDS, but which may have other objectives and
may not achieve those goals," Sen. Craig wrote in his letter to
Natsios. "I urge you to resist those suggestions. Further, I would
hope Congress will continue to join me in funding only those activities
which do achieve those goals."
"I am aware of the activities of Population Services International
("PSI") in furtherance of good development assistance around
the world," wrote Sen. Craig. "PSI's activities are provably
effective and efficient and I therefore lend my support to funding by
the U.S. government, through the appropriations process, of activities
by PSI and others who are experienced and trustworthy, as demonstrated
by their achievements in helping the developing world avoid the ravages
of HIV and other unfortunate diseases. Further, I write in direct support
of PSI's activities in that regard in Central America."
Specifically, Sen. Craig raised concerns about USAID's handling of a
recent contract for a four-year program in behavior change among vulnerable
populations in Central America and Mexico. The RFA, or "Request
for Applications," was abruptly cancelled without explanation on
July 19 at the end of a long contracting process and at a time when
an announcement of the winning bid was expected. Sen. Craig, in his
letter, urges Natsios "to re-open RFA#596-A-05-004 with a view
to allowing PSI and other qualified NGOs to continue their vital work
in that region."
Craig also noted that PSI carries out activities in countries from which
the United States receives thousands of immigrants.
"While PSI's activities are targeted to stop the spread of infectious
diseases in these Central American countries, it cannot be overstated
that PSI's activities have a profound effect on the United States. In
particular, many of these immigrants are contracting infectious diseases
in Central America before migrating to the United States. Once in the
United States many of these uninsured immigrants seek out health care
in U.S. hospitals, causing a great burden on our healthcare sector and,
subsequently, the U.S. taxpayer. That being said, it is critical for
PSI to continue the work they are doing by educating the people of Central
America about the HIV virus and to help stop the spread of infectious
disease in these countries and, incidentally, the United States."
Sen. Craig was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1990 after serving ten
years in Idaho's First District congressional seat. He currently serves
as chairman of the Committee on Veteran's Affairs. He has been recognized
as a powerful advocate for common sense and greater accountability in
government. Sen. Craig sits on the Senate Appropriations Committee,
where he oversees funding of programs in Health and Human Services,
Agriculture, Labor and Education, and also serves as co-chair of the
Congressional Coalition on Adoption whose institute he helped to create.
The CCAI raises congressional and public awareness on adoption issues
and international children's issues. He led the most recent delegation
to India in March of this year.
— David J. Olson
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Sen. Larry E. Craig (R-Idaho) has added his voice to the
legislators supporting PSI's HIV/AIDS prevention work, calling
particular attention to PSI's Central American program.
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