Ranking Member Frankel Statement at PEPFAR Hearing
April 8, 2025 | Statements
Congresswoman Lois Frankel (D-FL-22), Ranking Member of the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Subcommittee, delivered the following remarks at the subcommittee's hearing to assess the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR):
-As Prepared For Delivery-
Good morning.
Thank you to our witnesses, Dr. Mark Dybul and Ms. Catherine Connor, for joining us today to discuss the future of PEPFAR—one of the most effective and most bipartisan global health achievements in American history.
Since its launch under President George W. Bush in 2003, PEPFAR has saved more than 26 million lives, supported HIV testing for over 71 million people, prevented 5.5 million babies from being born with HIV, and provided care to 7 million orphans and vulnerable children. It has trained over 330,000 healthcare workers and helped build health systems that serve more than 50 countries across Africa, developing countries in Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
And let’s be clear: this is not just about numbers. This is about hope. It’s about communities that went from despair to survival—and then to opportunity. It’s the kind of soft power that makes the world safer—and makes America stronger and more prosperous.
Before PEPFAR, HIV/AIDS was wiping out entire generations across African countries. It decimated economies, shattered families, and created instability that threatened global security. PEPFAR turned the tide. It showed the world what America can do when we lead with compassion, science, and smart investment.
Every administration has a right—and a duty—to evaluate government programs. But what we’ve seen from the Trump Administration is not oversight—it’s sabotage. A reckless, slash-and-burn approach that puts lives at risk and throws global partnerships into chaos.
Many PEPFAR programs have been halted midstream. Waivers may be well intended but they are not working. Staff have been left unpaid. Medicines are not reaching those who need it. Health systems that rely on consistent support are now scrambling in confusion.
PEPFAR is not just a public health success story. It builds resilient societies, keeps children in school, strengthens local economies, and reduces the risk of extremist recruitment. It builds trust in America and makes our country stronger, safer, and more prosperous.
What we do through PEPFAR abroad has a direct impact on the health and safety of the American people. The stronger the health systems are in other countries, the better prepared we all are to detect, contain, and respond to outbreaks—before they become global threats. For example, PEPFAR-supported labs, clinics, and trained health workers were on the frontlines of the COVID-19 response, not only protecting their own communities but serving as our first line of global defense. PEPFAR doesn’t just protect our values—it protects our health. And it helps our allies become stronger, healthier partners in global cooperation, security, and trade.
We now stand at a crossroads. If we allow PEPFAR to be splintered, the cost will not just be measured in dollars—it will be measured in lives lost, health systems weakened, trading partners diminished, societies destabilized, and trust in the United States eroded around the world.
So today, I call on my colleagues to move forward with bipartisan cooperation to ensure this life-saving, globally respected program continues to thrive—and help end HIV/AIDS once and for all.
And as we look ahead, I hope we will also explore ideas to improve PEPFAR’s operations, and make it more efficient and sustainable, so it remains strong and responsive for the years to come.
Thank you, and I yield back.
Source: Appropriations Committee Democrats - Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro
https://democrats-appropriations.house.gov/news/statements/ranking-member-frankel-statement-pepfar-hearing
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