US senate approves OVC bill

The US senate has approved a Bill that provides a comprehensive US response to the worldwide problem of orphans and vulnerable children (OVC). According to Congresswoman Barbara Lee, who introduced the Bill, there was too much at stake for her government to take a "haphazard approach" to the global crisis facing OVC. The American Chronicle quoted her as saying, "This bill is an important step in creating a coordinated, more effective response to a crisis that impacts the futures of millions of the world's children." She hoped US President George W. Bush would sign the Bill quickly. A joint report by UNAIDS and UNICEF in July 2004 showed that a child was orphaned by HIV/AIDS every 14 seconds.