US foreign aid up for HIV/AIDS, Millennium funds

U.S. foreign aid would rise 10.7 percent under the proposed White House budget released on Monday, with more money to fight HIV/AIDS and help countries that reform economically and politically.

State Department figures showed the U.S. foreign operations budget, which funds everything from child health care programs and aid to refugees to foreign military sales and debt relief, would rise to $22.82 billion from an estimated $19.71 billion.

Rather than being dedicated to specific nations, most of the rise would go to double funds for the Millennium Challenge Corporation, which rewards nations that pursue “good governance and sound policies,” to $3 billion from $1.49 billion.

This is below the $5 billion that U.S. President George W. Bush initially promised he would seek for the Millennium Challenge Corporation, an apparent reflection of past congressional reluctance to fully fund it.

At present, 17 countries are eligible to apply for the corporation funds: Armenia, Benin, Bolivia, Cape Verde, Georgia, Ghana, Honduras, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mali, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Senegal, Sri Lanka and Vanuatu.

The other large increase was for the U.S. Global HIV/AIDS Initiative, whose funds would rise to $1.97 billion from $1.37 billion. The effort seeks to help the most severely afflicted countries around the world combat the disease.

Provided by ArmMed Media
Revision date: July 6, 2011
Last revised: by Amalia K. Gagarina, M.S., R.D.