Legislative Update...

Lugar Cosponsors Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2007

In March, Senator Lugar cosponsored S. 22, the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2007.  This bipartisan bill is designed to provide educational benefits for men and women in uniform that reflect their service since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

“Our young men and women have shown a remarkable willingness to serve our nation in the military.  I am hopeful that this legislation will expand opportunities for members of our military to pursue higher education as they return home from their important service,” said Senator Lugar. 

“I have always been a staunch supporter of military service members.  As a former Navy man myself, I believe we must keep our promises to those who have fought for our peace and freedom and have made great sacrifices for our country.  Programs to take care of active duty, reserve, retiree, and veteran personnel have always been a top priority of mine, and I will continue to support responsible changes to the law that ensure their needs are met.”

The G.I. bill would give our returning troops educational and training benefits that mirror the benefits provided to U.S. veterans after World War II.  This package would include the costs of college tuition and a housing allowance based on locality.  The bill would also cover U.S. National Guard and Reserve service members called to active duty.

By contrast, the current law requires service members to pay $1,200 during their first year of service in order to qualify for a benefit that has not kept pace with the increasing costs of college tuition.

Senate Committee Approves HIV/AIDS Bill

In March, the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved the U.S. Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act (S. 2731) by a vote of 18-3.

The bill was introduced by Senators Biden (D-DE), Lugar (R-IN), Kennedy (D-MA) and Sununu (R-NH) on March 7. It expands upon the 5-year-old PEPFAR effort to stem the tide of these diseases worldwide. 

The timely legislation will help combat the over 2 million deaths due to HIV/AIDS and the over 2.6 million lives claimed by TB and malaria. The bill also ensures efficient ways of fighting these diseases through empowering local governments to spearhead the fight against these diseases, funding flexibility to implement programs, coordination of the program with other global health and development initiatives and emphasis on the prevention of HIV/AIDS

“This bipartisan legislation improves upon a successful program that shows America’s sincere compassion for millions of people who do not have access to treatment.  From the first meetings at the White House five years ago, to this iteration, we have focused on the health prospects for millions of lives. I’ve met with hundreds of non-governmental and faith-based organizations, along with our government officials that administer these programs in the field, and have heeded their pleas for more flexibility,” said Senator Lugar.

Already, PEPFAR has provided treatment to 1.4 million people who suffer from HIV/AIDS in Africa and elsewhere. Before the program began, only 50,000 people in all of sub-Saharan Africa were receiving life-saving, but costly anti-retroviral drugs. Today, three times that many are being treated in Kenya alone. This reauthorization act will not only focus on treatment but deterrence as well.

“PEPFAR has focused on prevention programs, with a target of preventing 7 million new HIV infections. As Americans, we should take pride in our nation’s efforts to combat these diseases overseas,” Senator Lugar said.

“Moreover, we should understand that our investments in disease prevention programs have yielded enormous foreign policy benefits during the last five years. PEPFAR has helped to prevent instability and societal collapse in a number of at-risk countries; it has stimulated contributions from other wealthy nations to fight AIDS; it has facilitated deep partnerships with a new generation of African leaders; and it has improved attitudes toward the United States in Africa and other regions. In my judgment, the dollars spent on this program can be justified purely on the basis of the humanitarian results that we have achieved. But the value of this investment clearly extends to our national security and to our national reputation.”

As Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in 2003, Senator Lugar led bipartisan Senate efforts to enact the legislation, also referred to as the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), that authorized a five year funding level of $15 billion to address the global HIV/AIDS pandemic. 

For his efforts to bring attention and raise awareness of the HIV/AIDS crisis, Lugar has been recognized by Africare, YouthAIDS, the Africa Society of the National Summit on Africa, and the Mercy Foundation.

For more information, read Senator Lugar’s committee statement.