Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-NY)

SEPTEMBER 8 — Congressman Joseph Crowley (D-NY) urged President Bush to sanction additional funds for India’s HIV/AIDS program. He made the plea in a letter to the President in response to the U.S. allocation of funds to Vietnam as a contribution to the HIV/AIDS situation the country is currently fighting against. “I believe additional funding should be allocated to India’s fight against HIV/AIDS, not only to embrace the opportunity to help stem the disease, but also as our responsibility with a strategic partner of that magnitude,” said Congressman Crowley. He said, “India is not just one of the many countries that could form the next wave of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, but perhaps the most important. Just from its sheer size and population mobility, the chances for the disease spreading to the general population are great.” –– By Vasantha Arora