Former Reps. J.C. Watts, Eva Clayton To Chair Council for AIDS Relief
Former Reps. J.C. Watts (R-Okla.) and Eva Clayton (D-N.C.) will be co-chairs of the new Council for AIDS Relief, an organization founded by the Corporate Council on Africa to organize corporations, not-for-profit groups and African countries to lobby for support of President Bush's proposed AIDS initiative, CongressDaily reports. Both former representatives were active in AIDS issues while serving in Congress (CongressDaily, 3/27). Mary Kanya, ambassador to the United States from Swaziland and current dean of the African Ambassadors AIDS Caucus, will serve as vice chair representing African nations, and Julius Coles, president of Africare, will serve as vice chair representing the not-for-profit community. Stephen Hayes, president of CCA, will serve as the council's president (CCA release, 3/27). The not-for-profit CCA works to enhance trade and investment ties between African countries and the United States, CongressDaily reports (CongressDaily, 3/27). Watts said that while there "are legitimate differences of opinion on how best to" stem the spread of HIV/AIDS in Africa, "in the end, we must put people before politics and do what it takes to help our brothers and sisters in Africa." Clayton added, "We have a social, moral and economic obligation to seek immediate emergency relief on the continent. I applaud the CCA for taking a leadership role in fighting this devastating disease. It is now up to us to educate members of Congress and the American people regarding what is happening and what must be done to stop it" (CCA release, 3/27).
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