In an example of poor judgement to the highest degree, North Carolina's Republican Senator Elizabeth Dole has introduced an amendment that would rename the PEPFAR Bill currently heading to the House of Representatives after Dole's deceased predecessor Jesse Helms. Under normal circumstances, this would be a gesture of respect and gratitude for a life dedicated to servicing the people of the United States. But in the case of Jesse Helm's this amendment may be a bit misguided. After all, Mr. Helms did not have the most stellar record of fighting to help those living with HIV. In fact, the contrary is true. Here are some of Mr. Helm's more poignant quotes:

1987 - Described AIDS prevention literature as "so obscene, so revolting, I may throw up."

1988 - Vigorously opposed the Kennedy-Hatch AIDS research bill, saying, "There is not one single case of AIDS in this country that cannot be traced in origin to sodomy."

1995 - In opposition of the Ryan White Act said that the government should spend less on people with AIDS because they got sick due to their "deliberate, disgusting, revolting conduct."

2002 - Announced that he'd changed his mind about AIDS funding for Africa, but not for American gays, because homosexuality "is the primary cause of the doubling and redoubling of AIDS cases in the United States."

Luckily, more rational minds prevailed - the Bill passed without the name change. What was Ms. Dole thinking?

Related Information

• What is PEPFAR?

• The Politics of HIV & Needle Exchange

_{Photograph courtesy of Brenda Smialowski / Getty Images}

Since 1987, the US has had in place, a law banning HIV positive people from imigrating to the US. In fact, HIV is the only medical condition is the only medical condition listed in the Immigration and Nationality Act as a basis for inadmissibility. HIV organizations around the world are pushing for the US to end ban. In a letter supporting the Tom Lantos & Henry J. Hyde U.S. Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008 these 160 HIV organizations urge politicians to block any attempt to remove legislation that would end the ban. Currently the US is one of only 12 countries to have such a travel ban in place. Read the entire letter.

Related Information

• HIV Travel Requirements

• Travel Tips for those People Carrying Prescription Drugs

• Staying Healthy on the Road

-Update-

The US Senate has passed the PEPFAR Bill providing $50 billion in funding to those countries hit hardest by HIV. In doing so, the Senate has also voted to lift the HIV travel ban. Now the Bill goes back to the House of Represetatives for approval. If all goes as expected, the House will clear the Bill by next week, sending it to the desk of President Bush for his signature.