Senate Passes Supplemental Spending Bill Containing $200M for International HIV/AIDS Efforts
The Senate yesterday passed by a vote of 92-7 a fiscal year 2002 $28.9 billion supplemental spending bill (HR 4775) that includes $200 million in funding for international HIV/AIDS programs, the AP/Detroit News reports. The bill, which was approved by the House on Tuesday, includes $5.1 billion in "contingent" emergency items, including the HIV/AIDS funding. The bill allows President Bush 30 days to decide whether to approve these funds. However, authors of the bill made it difficult for Bush to cut the contingent funding by including several "popular programs" such as airport and port security programs, election reform systems and the AIDS funding (Fram, AP/Detroit News, 7/25). If Bush fails to make a declaration on the measure, all of the emergency funding, including the $200 million for HIV/AIDS, would be lost. Although Bush is expected to sign the bill, it is unclear whether he will approve the contingency spending (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 7/24).
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