Res. No. 1278
Title
Resolution calling upon the United States Congress to pass H.R. 2765, the AIDS Marshal Plan Fund for Africa Act.
Body
By Council Members Reed, Carrion, Malave-Dilan, Freed, Lopez, Marshall, Perkins, Quinn and Warden; also Council Members DiBrienza, Foster, McCaffrey, Michels, Miller, Pinkett, Robinson and Spigner
Whereas, According to the United Nation's Children's Fund ("UNICEF") 1999 annual report (the "UNICEF report"), worldwide 14,000,000 individuals have died as a result of AIDS/HIV infection; and
Whereas, The UNICEF report found that 11,000,000 of these 14,000,000 AIDS/HIV deaths occurred in Africa; and
Whereas, A 1999 Bureau of the Census Report noted that AIDS/HIV has gravely impacted Sub-Saharan Africa, where as a consequence of the AIDS/HIV epidemic, the average life expectancy has decreased from approximately 65 years of age to approximately 40 years of age; and
Whereas, According to the findings contained in H.R. 2765, the "AIDS Marshall Plan Fund for Africa Act", AIDS/HIV has had a particularly devastating impact on the health status of young people in Sub-Saharan Africa, where 960,000 children are living with HIV/AIDS; and
Whereas, A 1997 United Nations AIDS study found that "between one-fifth to one-half of all pregnant women in the Republic of Zimbabwe are infected with HIV/AIDS and at least one-third of these pregnant women are likely to pass the infection on to their baby"; and
Whereas, The AIDS/HIV epidemic has also had a devastating economic impact on Africa; and
Whereas, The Southern Africa AIDS Information Dissemination Service estimates that during the next two decades, AIDS will eliminate 25 percent of the value of the Sub-Saharan economy; and
Whereas, H.R. 2765, introduced by Congressional Members Barbara Lee and Mark Foley, would if enacted, establish an AIDS Marshall Plan Fund for Africa Corporation (the "Africa Corporation"), which would function as an independent agency of the federal government; and
Whereas, Once established, the Africa Corporation's mission would include providing grants to African governments and non-governmental organizations for projects which will fund research, prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS in Africa; and
Whereas, H.R. 2765 authorizes $200 million to be appropriated to the AIDS Marshall Fund for Africa, for every fiscal year between 2001 and 2005; and
Whereas, H.R.2765 specifically requires grantee governments to establish a comprehensive plan that ensures that the recipient country is committed to providing HIV/AIDS research, prevention and treatment activities covered under the Africa Corporation's program; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the United States Congress to pass H.R. 2765, the AIDS Marshall Plan Fund for Africa Act.
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