If you had asked me this time last year what I knew about PEPFAR, I would have had no idea what you were talking about. By autumn, I knew it was the acronym for the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, and, following some research, I gradually became convinced of both its significance domestically and its impressive worldwide influence. I have since become an ardent supporter.
Part of the research process included speaking to numerous Latter-day Saint women who helped implement and work in its programs. So it is fitting that I recently traveled to Washington, D.C., with other members of Mormon Women for Ethical Government to meet with congressional staffers and deliver more than 300 constituent letters. We worked to both underscore the importance of principled advocacy in general and discuss specific policy issues our members care about. Among them, PEPFAR stood out as urgent, strategic and morally imperative.
For more than 20 years, PEPFAR has been one of the greatest success stories in global health and American diplomacy. Consider the 25 million lives saved, the prevention of transmission of HIV to millions more and the demonstrated power of U.S. leadership in humanitarian efforts. What began as a bold initiative under President George W. Bush, passing with broad bipartisan support, has now become a legacy of American values and global impact. It is one of the best investments our country has ever made.
Despite its proven effectiveness and the ongoing need for its services, PEPFAR’s future is at risk. The program, which has always received strong bipartisan backing, now faces opposition from many Republicans. However, its reauthorization would affirm conservative values like protecting the innocent, promoting stability and responsibly stewarding taxpayer dollars.
During my meetings on Capitol Hill, I was struck by how many congressional offices recognized PEPFAR’s incredible impact yet hesitated to publicly vocalize their support. With deep conservative roots, PEPFAR was designed with accountability in mind — prioritizing faith-based partnerships, measurable outcomes and bipartisan oversight. The programs have not only saved lives, they’ve strengthened U.S. national security by stabilizing regions affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Healthy societies are productive societies and less susceptible to conflict, extremism and economic collapse.
Lawmakers who take pride in fiscal responsibility should appreciate PEPFAR’s efficiency. The program has delivered an unmatched return on investment. It has helped build health care infrastructure in some of the world’s most vulnerable communities, strengthening global disease surveillance in a way that ultimately protects American interests. This was evident during the COVID-19 pandemic, when systems built by PEPFAR played a crucial role in responding to emerging health crises.
I know firsthand that so many Utahns value humanitarian work and principled conservatism. Our community has a long history of international service and engagement, whether through faith-based missions, medical initiatives or disaster relief efforts. PEPFAR aligns perfectly with this ethos: American generosity paired with strategic policymaking can create lasting global change.
During our D.C. visit, we delivered letters to Utah’s congressional delegation, emphasizing constituent support for PEPFAR and other policies. Their responses were encouraging — staffers acknowledged the outpouring of engagement and expressed appreciation for hearing directly from constituents. And when words of appreciation are punctuated with action, good things happen. Reps. Burgess Owens, Blake Moore, Mike Kennedy and Celeste Maloy — as well as Sens. Mike Lee and John Curtis — can affirm their commitment to conservative principles and global leadership by supporting PEPFAR’s reauthorization.
Reauthorizing PEPFAR is not only the right thing to do; it is the smart thing to do. It advances American interests, bolsters national security and reflects the best of our values. Members of Congress should be proud of this legacy and should work to protect it, rather than allow political distractions to derail one of the most effective programs our nation has ever created.
I may be a newcomer to PEPFAR, but I am now an advocate for it. I invite my fellow Utahns to join me in reaching out to our elected representatives to ask them to stand up for life, global stability and American leadership by reauthorizing PEPFAR.