"We cannot fix every problem," Obama said in a written statement. "But we have a responsibility to protect the health of our people, while saving lives, reducing suffering, and supporting the health and dignity of people everywhere. America can make a significant difference in meeting these challenges and that is why my administration is committed to act."
Lew called it "an extraordinary step to save the lives of men, women and children" and said it links U.S. national security policy with carrying out a moral obligation to help the world's poorest and most threatened populations.
The Bush administration pushed for funding to improve health in the world's poorest places, arguing that some of those places could otherwise be breeding grounds for terrorism and anti-American sentiment. By helping those populations, Washington hoped to improve the United States' image and security.
Obama plans to release his budget proposal in detail on Thursday. Ahead of the formal announcement, the White House has been detailing pieces of it, including $8.6 billion for the coming fiscal year that starts Oct. 1. The request is a $460 million increase over this year's budget.
Last year, Congress passed and Bush signed legislation to triple U.S. spending from $15 billion over the previous five years to $48 billion covering 2009 and the next four years.
Lew said the "challenge now is to take the things we've learned ... and build on it."
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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