INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED AFRICAN CHILDREN’S CHOIR THRILLED FOR THE BILL PASSAGE OF H.R.5501 – GLOBAL AIDS INITIATIVE RENEWAL

PHOTO: President George W. Bush embraces members of the African Children's Choir Wednesday, July 30, 2008, thanking them for their musical performance at the White House. White House photo by Eric Draper

New York, NY – (August 4, 2008) – The White House has released the transcription and additional information on last week’s signing by President George W. Bush of the H.R.5501 – Global AIDS Initiative Renewal bill. The initiative affects many children in Africa, so it is a cause very dear to the internationally-acclaimed African Children’s Choir who was invited to perform at the White House for the bill signing ceremony.

Minutes before signing HR 5501, President and Mrs. Bush greeted founder of the African Children’s Choir Ray Barnett and the choir in the corridor of the east wing of the White House and thanked the choir personally for coming to this "historic event." Prior to their performance, the President acknowledged them in his speech when he stated, “African Children's Choir, which we'll hear soon -- I think you'll find them to be as angelic as I did.” (WhiteHouse.gov) Following his speech he signed the H.R. 5501 bill.

In regards to the bill, the House had voted to triple money to fight AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis around the world, giving new life and new punch to a program credited with saving or prolonging millions of lives in Africa alone.
The 303-115 vote sent the global AIDS bill to President Bush for his signature. The current $15 billion act, which would have expired at the end of September, has helped bring lifesaving anti-retroviral drugs to some 1.7 million people and supported care for nearly 7 million.

The legislation approves spending of $5 billion for malaria and $4 billion for tuberculosis, the leading cause of death for people with AIDS. It authorizes spending of up to $2 billion next year for the international Global Fund to Fight AIDS. The measure also provides $2 billion, on top of the $48 billion, for American Indian water, health and law enforcement programs.

PEPFAR, The President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, has focused on nations in sub-Saharan Africa that have been devastated by AIDS, but it has also provided assistance in the Caribbean and other areas hit by the pandemic now affecting some 33 million worldwide. Even with advances in treating the disease, there are still about 7,000 new HIV infections every day around the world.

The new bill, like the current law, states that 10 percent of funds should be allocated for orphans and vulnerable children. It sets as a goal preventing 12 million new HIV infections, treating more than 2 million with anti-retroviral drugs, supporting care for 12 million people infected with HIV/AIDS and training at least 140,000 new health care workers and paraprofessionals. The passing of this bill is deeply personal to the African Children’s Choir who many are orphaned due to the devastating effects of AIDS.

The African Children’s Choir is a world renowned Choir has been working with the most vulnerable children in Africa for nearly 25 years, raising awareness of the plight of the orphaned and abandoned, but also showing the beauty, dignity, and potential of the African child. With a focus on education the Choir is currently caring for several thousand underprivileged children throughout Africa. These are children who could have lost all hope, but have overcome their circumstances and now are making a positive impact on society by being a voice for millions of children suffering in Africa.

The African Children's Choir, founded by Ray Barnett following the aftermath of Idi Amin's brutal regime over Uganda, has helped create an organization that has helped thousands of underprivileged children in communities throughout Uganda, Kenya, Sudan, Rwanda, Nigeria, Ghana, and South Africa.

For more information visit www.africanchildrenschoir.com.