South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu has urged the U.S. Senate to reauthorize the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) bill, which will more than triple the amount of money spent on fighting AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis in developing countries, Reuters reports (reuters.com, 6/18).

The $50 billion bill was passed by the U.S House of Representatives in April; it is awaiting approval by the Senate but is facing opposition by Senator Tom Coburn and other Republicans, according to the article.

“You have already saved millions of lives. And the new legislation has the potential for sustaining a response, to build on all of the gains that have already been achieved,” said Tutu. “I plead to the leaders, the members of Congress—please, please for the sake of the world, for the sake of the future, expedite the passing of the relevant legislation.”