Opinion | Republicans want to kneecap the GOP’s greatest modern legacy

Amid President George W. Bush’s many failures as president, one of his proposals became an incredible success for global health.

Since its launch in 2003, the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief has saved an estimated 25 million lives and currently provides antiretroviral treatments for 20 million people worldwide. But now the program’s future is in question thanks to baseless claims from anti-abortion groups.

PEPFAR: A Bipartisan Success Story

It’s worth noting that, at its outset, PEPFAR was also the kind of bipartisan success story that has become increasingly uncommon. Congress first passed the legislation authorizing the program only four months after Bush first proposed it in his State of the Union address. Since then, it’s been reauthorized three times with minimal drama, including a failed attempt in 2008 to lift restrictions on funding going to groups that work with sex workers. The most recent reauthorization in 2018 passed the House via voice vote and the Senate by unanimous consent.

Threats to PEPFAR Reauthorization

This time around, though, the odds of reauthorization have collapsed. Earlier this year, the conservative Heritage Foundation published a report that accused the Biden administration of using PEPFAR funding to “promote its domestic radical social agenda overseas.” On the heels of that report, conservative groups sent a letter to GOP lawmakers claiming that PEPFAR funds are “used by nongovernmental organizations that promote abortions and push a radical gender ideology abroad.”

Lack of Evidence

Neither the letter nor the Heritage Foundation report actually offer up any proof that this is happening. Instead, they highlight that the International Planned Parenthood Federation receives USAID funding as part of a project to “promote and sustain improved health and agency.” They also interpreted language in a recent PEPFAR strategy document about “sexual health and reproductive rights” as being secret code for abortions.

U.S. Law and Abortion Restrictions

Even if that wasn’t the case, U.S. law already prohibits using foreign aid and development funds to pay for or even support the concept of abortion. And of the 25 countries that are receiving direct PEPFAR assistance, abortion is heavily restricted in the vast majority and entirely illegal in four of them.

Potential Consequences of Failure to Reauthorize PEPFAR

To be fair, failure to reauthorize PEPFAR before the end of the current fiscal year in September won’t abruptly end the program. Parts of the law are permanent, but others, including requirements for how HIV funding is allocated, would sunset. Worse, the program’s total funding pool, rather than being renewed every five years, would be left vulnerable to the whims of the annual appropriations process.

Importance of Long-Term Planning and Global Commitment

Some Republicans are saying they’d support a reauthorization but under certain conditions, including re-upping the legal framework for only one year instead of five. The problem there is that public health programs work better when able to plan for a longer-term set of investments. And more immediately, there’s a worry that failing to reauthorize PEPFAR as usual would be a sign for other countries that America is backtracking on the global commitment to ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030.

Threatening a Remarkable Success

Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., who’s leading the charge against PEPFAR, is a recent convert to the cause. As chairman of the House subcommittee with jurisdiction, he’s the one who drafted the 2018 reauthorization that passed without any concerns. Now, though, he says won’t give his backing without the program adhering to “the Mexico City Policy,” also known as the “global gag rule.”

Conservative Threats to a GOP Public Relations Success

While the attack on the program is politically aimed at President Joe Biden, it is nothing short of a massive own goal for conservatives. It’s almost impossible to stress how much of a public relations success has PEPFAR been for the GOP

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
• SDG 5: Gender Equality
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

The article discusses the potential threat to the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which is a global health program aimed at combating HIV/AIDS. This aligns with SDG 3, which focuses on ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all. The article also mentions the accusations of funding being used for abortions and promoting a radical gender ideology, highlighting the connection to SDG 5, which aims to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. Additionally, the article touches on the potential impact of failing to reauthorize PEPFAR, which could lead to reduced access to healthcare services and increased inequalities, aligning with SDG 10. Lastly, the article emphasizes the importance of partnerships and global commitments in addressing the AIDS epidemic, linking to SDG 17.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 3.3: By 2030, end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and neglected tropical diseases and combat hepatitis, water-borne diseases, and other communicable diseases.
• Target 5.6: Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights as agreed in accordance with the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development and the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome documents of their review conferences.
• Target 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies, and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies, and action in this regard.
• Target 17.16: Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships that mobilize and share knowledge, expertise, technology, and financial resources to support the achievement of the sustainable development goals in all countries, particularly developing countries.

Based on the article’s content, the specific targets identified are related to ending the AIDS epidemic (Target 3.3), ensuring universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights (Target 5.6), reducing inequalities (Target 10.3), and enhancing global partnerships for sustainable development (Target 17.16).

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator 3.3.1: Number of new HIV infections per 1,000 uninfected population, by sex, age, and key populations.
• Indicator 5.6.1: Proportion of women aged 15-49 years who make their own informed decisions regarding sexual relations, contraceptive use, and reproductive health care.
• Indicator 10.3.1: Proportion of population reporting having personally felt discriminated against or harassed in the previous 12 months on the basis of a ground of discrimination prohibited under international human rights law.
• Indicator 17.16.1: Number of countries that have national statistical legislation that complies with the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics.

The article does not explicitly mention indicators, but based on the identified targets, the above indicators can be used to measure progress towards those targets. These indicators focus on measuring new HIV infections, women’s decision-making autonomy in sexual and reproductive health, experiences of discrimination, and the existence of national statistical legislation.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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Source: msnbc.com

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