Our Declaration and Commitment

As American leaders of faith, we support the lives of the most vulnerable at home and around the world, including the millions who are suffering from preventable, treatable diseases such as AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria.

We know that U.S. support for the Global Fund ensures that this special partnership of governments, faith-based and other civil society organizations, and businesses will continue growing and making an enormous impact. By a conservative estimate, the Global Fund has contributed to saving over 32 million precious lives of our sisters and brothers in countries where it supports local projects. Since 2002, the Global Fund has cut AIDS-related deaths by more than half, and cut TB and malaria deaths by 22 percent and 46 percent respectively. All those saved are now able to flourish in dignity.

U.S. investments in the Global Fund and all other global health programs are less than one quarter of one percent of the total federal budget, and they provide significant health security and economic benefits. For example, the Global Fund invests in strengthening local health infrastructure, which also helps countries fight and contain other diseases like Ebola or the coronavirus. U.S. investments through the Global Fund also encourage countries fighting AIDS, TB and malaria to increase their own investments in health. The Global Fund projects that domestic funding for programs to fight the three epidemics in 2021-2023 will grow to $46 billion, an increase of 48 percent over the current cycle.

To keep making this kind of progress, we need continued U.S. leadership. In 2019, the whole world stepped up, pledging $14 billion for the Global Fund’s hugely successful sixth replenishment – an unprecedented 15 percent increase over the previous fundraising cycle. U.S. leadership was absolutely instrumental and encouraged other donors to increase their contributions. The additional funding will save an additional 16 million lives, cut projected AIDS, TB and malaria deaths in half, and avert 234 million infections or disease cases.

Maintaining a $1.56 billion Congressional appropriation for fiscal year 2021 would equal a $4.68 billion U.S. contribution over the three year replenishment -- and ensure that other donors follow through on their commitments. If we do not maintain our $1.56 billion annual appropriation, preventable diseases will claim more lives. Let’s work together to make sure that doesn’t happen.

SIGNATURES