H.Res. 593House115th Congress (2017-2019)In Committee

Recognizing the importance of a continued commitment to ending pediatric HIV/AIDS worldwide.

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Updated April 15, 2026 at 6:45 PM UTC

This House resolution urges the United States to keep working toward ending pediatric HIV/AIDS worldwide. It highlights the progress made through programs like PEPFAR and the Global Fund, stresses the need for continued prevention of mother‑to‑child transmission, and calls for expanded treatment and support for children, adolescents, women, and families affected by HIV, especially in sub‑Saharan Africa.

Key Provisions

Recognizes that preventing mother‑to‑child transmission is essential to stopping HIV worldwide.
Commends U.S. leadership in reducing new pediatric HIV infections and expanding treatment for children.
Notes that eliminating pediatric HIV has been a U.S. priority for over a decade and urges continued leadership.
Supports evidence‑based programs to prevent HIV infections among adolescents and young women.
Calls for expanded HIV counseling, testing, and medicines for women and children to prevent transmission and keep mothers healthy.
Advocates scaling up treatment for HIV‑positive children and adolescents, including better drugs, age‑appropriate services, and caregiver support.
Reaffirms the United States’ commitment to ending AIDS globally, eliminating new pediatric infections, and helping affected families.

Legislative Activity

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2 earlier actions

HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Health Subcommittee

October 27, 2017

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

October 26, 2017

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Foreign Affairs Committee

October 26, 2017

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Health Subcommittee

October 27, 2017

Floor Debate

1 member

What members said about H.Res. 593 on the floor

1 Republican

Rep. Ileana Ros-LehtinenR-FL-27 · Nov 1, 2017

Mr. Speaker, I wish to highlight the Step Forward to Cure TSC Miami Walk, which took place last weekend at my alma mater, Florida International University. Tuberous sclerosis complex, or TSC, is a…

Mr. Speaker, I wish to highlight the Step Forward to Cure TSC Miami Walk, which took place last weekend at my alma mater, Florida International University. Tuberous sclerosis complex, or TSC, is a rare genetic disease that causes uncontrollable tumor growth across the face, body, and organs of impacted individuals.

Unfortunately, there is no cure for TSC. South Florida's own hero, Max Lucca, pictured here, was diagnosed with TSC when he was only 2 weeks old. Now, he is 9 years old, and he has thrived because of the constant love and care provided by his parents, Vanessa and Max. The TSC Miami Walk brings together patients like Max Lucca and their families with supporters who are committed to improving their lives.

Every year, the walk plays an essential role in advancing lifesaving research and programs to increase awareness of TSC, and expanding the network of resources that improve the lives of patients and their families.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize the work of Vanessa Vazquez; her husband, Max; and all of the other activists who are so needed from the Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance who work so hard to make this walk a reality.

I want to thank everyone who came out to FIU last Saturday and made this event a resounding success. Due to your efforts, due to your commitment, I am confident that we will be able to increase the research and education needed to find a cure for this tragic disease.

Meanwhile, go Max Lucca.

Commit to Ending Pediatric HIV/AIDS Worldwide

Mr. Speaker, I would like to encourage my colleagues to support H. Res. 593, a bipartisan resolution reaffirming our national commitment to ending pediatric HIV/AIDS worldwide.

It is a resolution that I introduced with my friend, Congresswoman Barbara Lee. The fight against pediatric AIDS is a great example of how our country is a positive and transformative force in the lives of many across the world. Because of our leadership here in the United States over the past 12 years, there has been a 62 percent increase in the number of women receiving mother-to-child transmissions prevention services. Wow.

Thanks to positive American involvement through programs like PEPFAR, more than 11.5 million expectant mothers around the world have received HIV testing and counseling, and nearly 2 million babies have been born HIV-free.

However, even though we have made great strides in a fight against pediatric AIDS over the last few years, we cannot rest, Mr. Speaker. We cannot rest while more than 400 children around the world are born with HIV every day; 400. We cannot rest when less than half of the children suffering from HIV have access to the lifesaving treatments they so desperately need; less than half. Indeed, we must redouble our efforts to reach every single mother and child impacted by this terrible disease.

For this reason, my friend, Congresswoman Barbara Lee, and I just reintroduced H. Res. 593, a bipartisan resolution recommitting our country, the United States, to eradicating pediatric AIDS worldwide and supporting those who have been impacted by this epidemic. Our resolution also supports our national efforts to provide women and children with HIV counseling, with HIV testing services, as well as expanding their access to lifesaving treatments.

America's ongoing commitment has helped save the lives of many, but so much more remains to be done. We are one of the greatest hopes for a better future for countless others. Now, more than ever, it is essential to ensure that we remain committed as a nation to creating a future where no child suffers from HIV/AIDS.

I urge my colleagues to support this worthwhile cause and cosponsor our resolution, H. Res. 593.

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Introduced in HouseIssued October 26, 2017

115th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. RES. 593

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

October 26, 2017

Ms. Lee (for herself, Ms. Ros-Lehtinen, Ms. Norton, Mr. Evans, Mr. Cohen, Ms. Barragán, Ms. McCollum, Mr. Nadler, Mr. Khanna, Mr. McGovern, Ms. Maxine Waters of California, Ms. Esty of Connecticut, Ms. Bordallo, Mr. Lewis of Georgia, Mr. Costello of Pennsylvania, Mr. Serrano, Mr. Rodney Davis of Illinois, Mr. Quigley, and Ms. Judy Chu of California) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

RESOLUTION

Recognizing the importance of a continued commitment to ending pediatric HIV/AIDS worldwide.

Whereas approximately half of the 36,700,000 people living with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the pathogen that causes the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), worldwide are women and 2,100,000 are children in 2016;

Whereas HIV is a leading cause of death among women of childbearing age worldwide;

Whereas nearly 90 percent of HIV-positive expectant mothers in need of HIV services worldwide live in sub-Saharan Africa;

Whereas women around the world rely on essential pre- and post-natal care to provide screening for diseases such as HIV, and care for their health and the health of their infants;

Whereas when antiretroviral drugs are used as prophylaxis, mother-to-child transmission of HIV can be reduced to less than 5 percent;

Whereas in 2005 only 14 percent of women were receiving prevention of mother-to-child transmission services and that number in 2016 was 76 percent;

Whereas since 2001 the number of children born HIV positive has been more than cut in half;

Whereas despite increased global and United States efforts over 400 children were born HIV positive each day in 2016;

Whereas 90 percent of children living with HIV are in sub-Saharan Africa;

Whereas in 2016 only 43 percent of children with HIV were receiving antiretroviral therapy, far below the percentage of adults;

Whereas without treatment half of all children with HIV will die by their second birthday, and 80 percent by their fifth birthday;

Whereas 120,000 children died of AIDS-related causes in 2016;

Whereas 22 percent of new infections are in young women aged 15 to 24 in 2016;

Whereas in sub-Saharan Africa, girls account for 75 percent of new annual HIV infections among adolescents;

Whereas AIDS is a leading cause of death among adolescents globally;

Whereas research efforts at the National Institutes of Health have led to extraordinary breakthroughs for children infected with and at risk for HIV;

Whereas the United States began investing in prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) services in 2002 with the announcement of the United States International Mother and Child HIV Prevention Initiative;

Whereas in fiscal year 2016, the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) supported HIV testing and counseling for more than 11,500,000 pregnant women and since the program’s inception the provision of antiretroviral drug prophylaxis to prevent mother-to-child transmission has allowed nearly 2,000,000 babies to be born HIV free;

Whereas since 2002 the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria supported programs that provided 4,200,000 HIV-positive mothers with antiretroviral drug prophylaxis to prevent the transmission of HIV to their children;

Whereas in 2014 PEPFAR announced the Accelerating Children’s Treatment Initiative (ACT) that will double the number of HIV positive children on treatment over 2 years in 10 high-burden countries;

Whereas the PEPFAR DREAMS initiative is working to reduce new HIV infections in adolescent and young women in 10 sub-Saharan countries;

Whereas every mother should have the opportunity to fight for the life of her child; and

Whereas every child and adolescent should have access to medicines to lead a long and healthy life: Now, therefore, be it

That the House of Representatives—

(1)

recognizes that the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV is critical to stopping the spread of HIV worldwide;

(2)

applauds the United States leadership on efforts to eliminate new pediatric HIV infections and to scale-up pediatric treatment through programs and research;

(3)

recognizes that the fight to eliminate pediatric HIV worldwide has been a priority area for the United States in their global AIDS response for more than 13 years and calls on this leadership to continue;

(4)

supports providing adolescents and young women with the evidence-based approaches necessary to prevent new HIV infections;

(5)

supports providing women and children with HIV counseling and testing services where possible, and scaling up access to services and medicines that prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV and ensure HIV positive mothers survive and thrive;

(6)

supports scaling up of treatment for HIV for children and adolescents including greater access to more efficacious antiretroviral drug regimens, age appropriate services, and support for their caregivers; and

(7)

recommits the United States to lead the world to the end of AIDS, to eliminate new pediatric HIV infections worldwide, and support women, children, adolescents and families infected and affected by HIV.