Senate approves $2.4 billion for international AIDS programs

The Senate on Thursday approved by voice vote $2.4 billion for international AIDS programs, about $220 million more than President Bush had requested in his fiscal 2005 budget proposal. Most of the AIDS money will go to the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, which assists 12 countries in Africa, the Caribbean, and Asia. The funds were part of a larger $19.6 billion foreign-aid appropriations bill. The House in July approved $2.2 billion for international AIDS programs in fiscal 2005, matching Bush's proposal. The two chambers will now form a conference committee to craft a compromise spending plan.