Reversing the spread of HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis

I support reauthorization of PEPFAR and President Bush's proposal to double our commitment from $15 billion to $30 over the next five years. I support an increase in our commitment to the Global Fund. Through PEPFAR and the Global Fund, we can do our fair share to meet the Millennium Development Goals we affirmed in 2000, including universal access to HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, and care.

I'll double annual foreign assistance from $25b to $50b by 2012, including at least $50b total by 2013 for HIV/AIDS, malaria and TB. That will mean lifting the 33% cap on US contributions to the Global Fund, ensuring at least 4.5 million people are on ARV treatment by 2013, and preventing 12 million new infections.

Eradicating Malaria

I support distributing Glaxo Smith Kline's new vaccine as widely as possible. I also support making insecticide-treated nets more available, since they are extremely cost effective.

I will double funding for the President's Malaria Initiative and dramatically expand access to mosquito nets that for less than $6 will lower the risk of getting malaria and save lives. I will also expand access to ACTs - at the relatively inexpensive cost of $2 per dose - to treat people who get malaria.

Improving Child and Maternal Health

I will work hard to reduce maternal and infant mortality by increasing the number and skills of health workers who provide pre-natal, delivery, and post-partum care. I support reducing childhood deaths by vaccinations, clean water, and basic health care (including vitamin A and oral rehydration), to prevent deaths from measles, diarrhea, and malnutrition.

I will increase funding for child and maternal health and ensure that increases in other important areas - including HIV/AIDS - do not come at the expense of child health and survival programs. I will expand access to vaccinations, increase research into new vaccines, and expand access to reproductive health programs.

Acheiving Universal Primary Education

I will work with other governments and both faith-based and secular charities to reduce or eliminate tuition, train teachers, provide books and uniforms, and increase access to education for girls.

Worldwide, an estimated 100 million children - including nearly 60 million girls - are not attending school. By 2010, getting these children into school could cost $10b annually. To meet our share of that sum, I will invest at least $2 billion in a Global Education Fund.

Food and Clean Water

This is an especially cost-effective goal because each dollar spent on water and sanitation generates an economic return of about $8 in savings of time and health costs and increased productivity. I will build water and sanitation infrastructure and invest in increasing agricultural productivity.

More than 1b people lack access to clean water, and that number will increase with the impact of climate change. The US has an obligation to increase access to clean water and sanitation. Through increased funding of up to $1.3b annually and innovative programs like 'play pumps,' I will expand access to clean water and sanitation.

Additional commitments for the world's poor

I'll make the Millennium Development Goals American policy. By the end of my first term I expect to see progress to meeting the MDGs, including reducing by half the number of people living on less than a dollar a day and suffering from hunger, and reversing the number of new HIV infections and malaria cases.