The House Committee on Appropriations released the FY 2013 State and Foreign Operations Draft Committee Report, which provides additional information on funding through the State and Foreign Operations appropriations bill (released May 8, 2012) for U.S. global health programs at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the State Department. This funding comprises a significant portion of the Global Health Initiative budget (total funding for the GHI is not currently available as some funding provided through USAID, HHS, and DoD are not yet available).

The report also included the following policy provisions:

• Reinstates the Mexico City Policy (also...

Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT, 3rd) introduced the "United States Leadership to Eradicate Obstetric Fistula Act of 2012" (H.R. 5748), which would require the President to, among other things, "establish a comprehensive, integrated, 10-year strategy to combat obstetric fistula in sub-Saharan Africa," provide funding for the prevention, treatment, and monitoring of obstetric fistula in Sub-Saharan African countries, and create the U.S. Advisory Committee for the Eradication of Obstetric Fistula. The bill would also authorize $10 million in appropriations for fiscal year 2013 and $180 million for fiscal years 2014 through 2022.

Additional Information:

- Representative DeLauro press release: "DeLauro Introduces Bill to Help End...

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released a cost estimate of the "International Protecting Girls by Preventing Child Marriage Act of 2011" (S. 414). The CBO "estimates that implementing the bill would have a discretionary cost of $23 million over the 2013-2017 period, assuming appropriation of the necessary amounts."

Representative Trent Franks (R-AZ, 2nd) introduced a concurrent resolution (H.Con.Res. 123) titled "Recognizing the potential for the virtual elimination of pediatric HIV and AIDS and keeping HIV positive mothers alive," which states, among other things, that Congress "supports providing women with HIV counseling and testing services where possible, and scaling up access to services that prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV; calls for greater access to more efficacious antiretroviral drug regimens for the health of women and children living with HIV . . . ; and fully support[s] United States led, and international efforts, to create a generation free of HIV, to eliminate...

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) released the "Global Health and Child Survival: Progress Report to Congress 2010-2011" summarizing the agency's health development efforts for 2010-2011.

The House Committee on Appropriations released the FY 2013 State and Foreign Operations Appropriations bill, which included funding for U.S. global health programs at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the State Department (see table below) comprising a significant portion of funding for the Global Health Initiative (total funding for the GHI is not currently available as some funding provided through USAID, HHS, and DoD are not yet available). Funding through the appropriations bill for the GHI at USAID and State would be $164 million (2%) greater than the President’s request.

With the exception of family planning and...

Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Richard Durbin (D-IL) introduced the "Clean Cookstoves Support Act of 2012" (S. 2515) to "promote the use of clean cookstoves and fuels to save lives, improve livelihoods, empower women, and combat harmful pollution by creating a thriving global market for clean and efficient household cooking solutions." Among other things, the bill directs the State Department, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Department of Energy, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to "work to advance the goals and work of the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves" through...

The President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) released its "Eighth Annual Report to Congress" detailing the FY 2011 program results in the areas of prevention, treatment, and care.

On World Malaria Day, the President's Malaria Initiative (PMI) released its 6th Annual Report, "which describes the role and contributions of the U.S. Government (USG) in the effort to reduce the burden of malaria in Africa, and to monitor antimalarial drug resistance and decrease malaria transmission in the Greater Mekong Subregion."

Additional USG actions and statements commemorating World Malaria Day:

• PMI releases "Fast Facts: The President's Malaria Initiative (PMI)"
• USAID IMPACTblog post: "U.S. and Russia Explore Cooperation on the Global Fight against Malaria"
• State Department DipNote Blog: "Winning Battle Against Malaria a Virtuous Cycle"
• Statement from the National Institute...