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Terry Dinkins is the pastor of the Mansion Church in Bangor.
There’s been a lot of noise coming out of Washington. Budget battles, Jeffrey Epstein, and gerrymandering fights have used up most of the oxygen, and it’s hard to know exactly what our representatives are doing for us. But every so often, a moment arises that gives our public servants the opportunity to reveal their true characters. Sen. Susan Collins has once again demonstrated hers by standing firmly in defense of PEPFAR, the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, and working to save the program.
That leadership was tested again recently when the Trump administration’s budget office withheld more than half of the HIV funding Congress had already appropriated for PEPFAR. Collins, as chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, publicly pushed back, calling the move unlawful and a clear violation of Congress’s constitutional power of the purse. She reminded the administration that the Impoundment Control Act prevents this kind of maneuvering and urged them to follow the proper appropriations process rather than attempting to sidestep the law. Her swift response underscores the seriousness of this moment and her determination to protect a program that saves millions of lives.
At a time when foreign aid is an easy target, Collins has continued to lead with her signature unyielding conviction, bucking the president himself and dozens of her Republican colleagues. She has worked tirelessly to safeguard what too many forget was once a defining Republican achievement.
Started by President George W. Bush in 2003, PEPFAR represents one of the most effective, accountable, and results-driven initiatives in the history of American foreign policy. It has saved over 26 million lives and empowered millions of families to thrive in regions once devastated by HIV/AIDS.
As a person of faith, I cannot overlook the importance of a program like PEPFAR. Scripture calls us to care for the sick and uplift the most vulnerable, and PEPFAR is a living example of what it means to love thy neighbor, whether they live next door or across the ocean.
It’s easy to forget that before PEPFAR, entire nations faced the real threat of societal collapse from the HIV/AIDS epidemic. What PEPFAR accomplished was nothing short of a geopolitical and health care miracle. It brought stability and improved public health systems to millions around the globe and consequently strengthened the diplomatic ties that are essential to U.S. strategic interests.
That’s not charity. That’s smart policy.
Some have recently questioned whether the United States should continue funding programs like PEPFAR. These critics argue that charity begins at home and that our fiscal house is in disarray. It’s true that we do need to rein in reckless spending. But PEPFAR is not the problem.
The dollars we invest in PEPFAR aren’t disappearing into a black hole. They are working to disrupt the spread of infectious disease and strengthen the resilience of countries that might otherwise become breeding grounds for instability and extremism. It’s national security by another name.
For those of us in the Christian community, this work also reflects a deeper truth: When we choose compassion over indifference, we honor God’s image in every human life. There are few government programs that better exemplify the fundamental truth that all human life has dignity and is worth protecting.
I believe Collins understands this. As chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, she has used her powerful position to shape the federal budget and protect policies that work — and PEPFAR works. Collins recognizes that lives hang in the balance. That without PEPFAR, children will be born with HIV who otherwise would not. That mothers will die of preventable illnesses. That public health systems will quickly crumble.
To Sen. Collins, thank you. Your commitment to PEPFAR is a reminder of what public service looks like. I believe Maine is proud to have your leadership, and the world is better for it.
This is what real leadership looks like. And in a time when it’s all too rare, we should be proud that it’s coming from our own senator. I hope others in Washington take note and follow her lead. And as this battle over PEPFAR funding continues, I urge her to keep standing up to the president and his budget office to ensure that lifesaving resources reach the people who need them most.