In response to President Bush's call for AIDS relief in his State of the Union address, Congress drafted legislation to combat the AIDS pandemic by authorizing $15 billion over five years to treat and prevent AIDS in Africa and elsewhere. During House consideration of the measure, Congressman Stearns (R-FL) offered an amendment to restrict funding for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, a Geneva-based humanitarian aid group. Specifically, the measure would cap the salaries of Global Fund employees at $192,000. Progressives opposed the salary cap because Global Fund employees play a central role in gathering and directing funds for AIDS assistance worldwide. Moreover, progressives argued that the current salary levels are necessary to attract the most highly-qualified and competent individuals to combat AIDS. The Stearns amendment was adopted on a 276-145 vote.