The program has been built on an A-B-C approach to the prevention of HIV/AIDS. Three keys to preventing the spread of this dreaded disease are Abstinence programs, Be faithful programs, and using Condoms. Together, these three reduce the number of partners and prevent risky behaviors. A report to Congress stated that the Abstinence and Be faithful programs have reached more than 40 million people including nearly 11 million primary-age children. At the same time, studies suggest that those programs that have begun to shift to condom-only paradigms are less effective at curbing the HIV infection rate. This has been observed in both Uganda and Botswana.
The benefit of the abstinence aspect of the PEPFAR program thus far is that it has helped create a change in personal behavior and social/ sexual norms among young people. The amazing results of PEPFAR’s first few years is the beginning of changing the way an entire generation views life, family, and health.
In spite of these facts, pro-abortion, anti-family ideology has gripped current policy makers. The newly proposed bill plans to undo rules that prevent money from going to abortions, while continuing to fund other aspects of family planning. Policy makers would also like to do away with a pledge that recipients of PEPFAR monies will not support the legalization of prostitution or sex trafficking. But this not a prudish limitation; the groups funded may still provide condoms or condom information to prostitutes. The pledge was conceived of to "ensure that pimps and brothel owners don't become U.S. government partners," according to, Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J. architect of the pledge and policy.
Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind., described the problem very succinctly. He said that these new adjustments to the AIDS program "would transform the program into a mega-funding pool for organizations with an abortion promotion agenda."
In response, some Democratic legislators purport that studies show some groups will not make the pledge because of concerns about alienating the women they are targeting. In addition, other groups see legalized and/or controlled prostitution as a way to slow the spread of HIV infection. In my mind, these are illogical assertions based on ideology instead of facts.
The most confusing aspect of this debate is that there are people in the faith community who are in favor of changing the current PEPFAR formula. Advocates of the “new” program cite 360 grassroots, faith-based partners in 36 countries. The American Jewish World Service has created a coalition with groups like the National Council of Jewish Women and the Union for Reform Judaism who strongly support the bill.
In summation, it is important to remember that the new bill undermines the abstinence aspect of the program without real scientific evidence to support the proposed change. Second, the new bill would also erase the power of the faithfulness programs originally established. Third, the blending of “family planning” and “reproductive health” programs with HIV/AIDS programs could be disastrous in terms of mission drift and lack of focus. Finally, the new bill could create large amounts of funding for international abortion providers.
So what should we do about it? I recommend that you pass this article on to a friend and let our congressmen know that we support PEPFAR the way it was originally written. Despite the excitement of presidential politics in a major election year, we need to make sure we mind the knitting of legislative policy in this transition period. The ball is in our court!