Those of you who follow Congressional proceedings closely will know that tomorrow the House will take up consideration for the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). This legislation has been tossed around in committee between Republicans and Democrats before a “bipartisan agreement” was reached
Originally PEPFAR was authorized for $15 billion ($3 billion for five years). Presently, PEPFAR gets about $6 billion a year. This new legislation being considered would increase this authorization to $10 billion per year or $50 billion over 5 years.
But the simple fact remains, it spends too much money.
Today, I submitted an amendment that will level fund the program at 3 billion per year.
The point here is that PEPFAR and numerous other government programs spend too much money. PEPFAR increases the overall foreign aid program by 15%, by itself. All in a year when the economy is teetering on recession.
We now have a deficit projected at over $400 billion and increasing; and many people here in Washington are talking about raising taxes. With spending programs like this, we will never get to a balance if we keep increasing such programs by over 300%. Not to mention, programs like these are separate of our defense and domestic needs
If there was a time to pull in the reins on spending, it is now.