The President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR, S.2731) bill passed in the Senate by strong bipartisan vote of 80-16. The bill reauthorizes critical funding programs to prevent the spread of HIV and to treat AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and related communicable diseases. The bill also removes the ban on entry into the United States and lawful permanent residence for individuals with HIV, a ban that has been in effect since 1987.

It is long past time to end this unnecessary and discriminatory ban," said Jonathan Eoloff, coordinator for Heartland Alliance's National Immigrant Justice Center's National Asylum Partnership on Sexual Minorities. "If this statutory bar is repealed, HIV and AIDS will be treated the same as any other communicable disease under our immigration laws."

The National Immigrant Justice Center urges the U.S. House of Representatives to pass the Senate version of PEPFAR and encourages President Bush to sign the bill into law as soon as possible.

Read NIJC's full response here. Once the final Senate version of PEPFAR is posted online, it will be available here.