In Brief

Staff Reports

Secretary of State And Former President George W. Bush To Attend International Aids Conference

WASHINGTON -- The White House announced Tuesday that senior members of the Obama Administration will participate in the 19th annual International AIDS Conference this week including: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius. White House spokesperson Shin Inouye said that the president will not attend but instead will provide a brief video message to welcome Conference attendees from around the world to Washington. Inouye added that the White House will also host a reception on July 26th to honor those people living with HIV and to thank men and women who have been fighting with dignity on the frontlines against this disease.

Former U. S. President George W. Bush is also slated to attend the conference.

Inouye said;

“Under the president’s leadership, the administration has increased overall funding to combat HIV/AIDS to record levels. We have launched the first comprehensive National HIV/AIDS Strategy for the United States to prevent and treat HIV in America. 

Globally, the Obama Administration has committed to treating six million people by the end of 2013 and is increasing the impact and sustainability of our investments.”

The 19th International AIDS Conference will take place at the Washington Convention Center. This will be the first time the US hosts the event since 1990, due to a law restricting HIV-positive people entering the country. President Barack Obama repealed the law in 2009.

U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator Ambassador Eric Goosby and the Director of the White House Office of National AIDS Policy Grant Colfax, will also attend scheduled conference events.