The NPR Politics Podcast This GOP Fight Could Devastate George W. Bush's Global Health Win
Oct 4, 2023
Nurith Aizenman, NPR's global health correspondent, dives into the challenges facing PEPFAR, a vital AIDS prevention program credited with saving over 25 million lives. She highlights how political disagreements within the Republican Party, particularly surrounding abortion funding and skepticism toward foreign aid, could threaten its success. Aizenman discusses the potential fallout of reducing U.S. support for such critical health initiatives, emphasizing the importance of bipartisan cooperation in addressing global health crises.
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PEPFAR Controversy
- Republicans in the House and Senate disagree on abortion rules within PEPFAR.
- Some Republicans also have broader ideological concerns about U.S. global involvement.
Anti-Abortion Efforts
- President Trump first applied anti-abortion language to PEPFAR through executive action.
- Current Republican efforts aim to codify this language into law, urged by anti-abortion groups.
Leveraging PEPFAR
- Some Republicans are willing to leverage PEPFAR to gain concessions on abortion.
- They aim to prevent aid from going to organizations that use non-U.S. funds for abortion-related activities.