Wednesday
Mar102010
Powerful Tandem Urges Passage Of Global Health "Bill"
Wednesday, March 10, 2010 at 2:41PM
By Sofia Sanchez
University of New Mexico/Talk Radio News Service
Former President Bill Clinton along with Microsoft CEO Bill Gates testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Wednesday in favor of legislation that would increase support for President Barack Obama’s Global Health Initiative (GHI).
The President’s FY2011 budget calls for $9.5 billion to be designated for the GHI. Although this number would make the U.S. the world's largest contributor financially to fighting global health issues, it may not be a realistic endeavor for the administration to take on right now.
Clinton and Gates recognized the country has a tight budget to work with next year, but stressed the importance of adequately funding the GHI.
“It is a very good bill, and I think it is the next logical step,” said Clinton. "But it reflects the budget constraints under which Congress labors.
The GHI would focus on worldwide HIV/AIDS prevention, family health, life-saving vaccines, science and technology innovation and tackling poverty.
Clinton said developing nations need to be able to get on “their own two feet, and move away from being dependent," in order to address their own health needs.
“24 percent of the world's health care problems are in Africa and only three percent of medical personnel are [there],” said the former President.
However, recruiting and training medical personnel in developing countries is one of the goals within the GHI. “Its purpose is to help the world’s poorest people lift themselves out of hunger and poverty,” said Gates, who recently reclaimed his title of world's richest man.
University of New Mexico/Talk Radio News Service
Former President Bill Clinton along with Microsoft CEO Bill Gates testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Wednesday in favor of legislation that would increase support for President Barack Obama’s Global Health Initiative (GHI).
The President’s FY2011 budget calls for $9.5 billion to be designated for the GHI. Although this number would make the U.S. the world's largest contributor financially to fighting global health issues, it may not be a realistic endeavor for the administration to take on right now.
Clinton and Gates recognized the country has a tight budget to work with next year, but stressed the importance of adequately funding the GHI.
“It is a very good bill, and I think it is the next logical step,” said Clinton. "But it reflects the budget constraints under which Congress labors.
The GHI would focus on worldwide HIV/AIDS prevention, family health, life-saving vaccines, science and technology innovation and tackling poverty.
Clinton said developing nations need to be able to get on “their own two feet, and move away from being dependent," in order to address their own health needs.
“24 percent of the world's health care problems are in Africa and only three percent of medical personnel are [there],” said the former President.
However, recruiting and training medical personnel in developing countries is one of the goals within the GHI. “Its purpose is to help the world’s poorest people lift themselves out of hunger and poverty,” said Gates, who recently reclaimed his title of world's richest man.
Gates, Buffett Take Top Spots On Forbes Richest Americans List
Microsoft mogul Bill Gates topped the Forbes list of the 400 richest Americans again this year with a net worth of $54 billion, a $4 billion increase from last year.
Investor Warren Buffett also maintained his spot on the list as second richest American, and like Gates increased his wealth by several billion. In 2009, Buffett, the CEO of the holding company Berkshire Hathaway, was worth $40 billion. This year he’s on the list with $45 billion.
The net worth of 217 others who made the list went up from 2009 as well.
The list included 16 new entries, including Facebook co-founder Dustin Moskovitz, who at 26 is also the youngest on the list.
34 who were on the list last year dropped off.
The list in its entirety can be read at Forbes.com