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Biotechnology is a major component in the U.S. plan to increase agricultural productivity and economic growth throughout the world. The science of biotechnology is helping to guide more precise crop and livestock breeding efforts, to diagnose crops and livestock diseases, to develop more effective livestock vaccines, and to engineer plants resistant to diseases and pests. Millions of starving people benefit every year from biotech foods provided to them from the United States Government and from planting programs in their own countries. The goal of the U.S. government is to assist developing countries in building the framework for decision-making that will facilitate access to these opportunities the science holds and will ensure the safe and effective application of this technology. The developing world is showing an increased interest in biotechnology as the success stories increase.

"I ask the Congress to commit $15 billion over the next five years, to turn the tide against AIDS in the most afflicted nations of Africa and the Caribbean" - President Bush.

In January 2003, President Bush introduced PEPFAR, the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, and set up the single largest fund to defeat the AIDS epidemic. This fifteen billion dollar program is in addition to the fiscal year budget in the United States of 21 billion dollars (for 2006). These funds are administered throughout the world from the Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator. The Catholic Church administers the majority of these funds through several different programs.

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The protection of fundamental human rights was a cornerstone in the establishment of the United States over 200 years ago. Since then, a central goal of U.S. foreign policy has been the protection of human rights, as embodied in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights . The United States believes that the promotion of human rights helps secure the peace, deter aggression, promote the rule of law, combat crime and corruption, strengthen democracies, and prevent humanitarian crises.

Immigration is an issue being faced throughout the world, not just in the United States. Countries are addressing this complex issue in more creative ways than ever. For some countries, the influx of immigrants is too much to absorb, while for other countries, the exodus of their most talented people leaves gaps in the workforce and a tremendous strain on those who remain. In addition to simple numbers, immigration trends also reflect many issues facing the world such as trafficking in persons, hunger, disease, and lack of human rights.

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The United States seeks to promote freedom of religion and conscience throughout the world as a fundamental human right and as a source of stability for all countries, assist newly formed democracies in implementing freedom of religion and conscience, a ssist religious and human rights NGOs in promoting religious freedom; identify and denounce regimes that are severe persecutors of their citizens or others on the basis of religious belief.

Secretary Rice (Mar. 16): "We're in this global war on terror not because we chose this fight, but because the United States of America was attacked with impunity on September 11 by those who desired to unravel our way of life."

Today terrorism affects the entire world and no one is excluded from its reach. The first step to defeating terrorism is promoting freedom, justice, and human dignity – working to end tyranny, to promote effective democracies, and to extend prosperity through free and fair trade and wise development policies . Preventing terrorist access to or use of weapons of mass destruction, their delivery systems, related materials, and advanced conventional weaponry, is one of our government's highest priorities.

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The U.S. government estimates 600,000 to 800,000 men, women and children are trafficked across international borders every year into slavery, including 14,500 to 17,500 in the United States alone. Some estimate the global number of trafficking victims to be in the millions – forced into domestic servitude, sex slavery, , work as child soldiers, child camel jockeys, and other forced labor. T rafficking deprives people of freedom in every part of the world and is a grave threat to human rights. It also threatens both public health and the national security, as disease and organized crime are closely connected to the scourge of trafficking.

 
   
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Supporting Human Rights and Democracy: The U.S. Records 2006

[…] The report documents the various tools applied by the United States to support indigenous democratic reform efforts across the globe. U.S. support is focused on the “core components” of a working democracy and the ability of human rights to be protected. These core components are free and fair elections, transparent and accountable institutions operating under the rule of law, and a robust civil society and independent media.

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[…] “By working with host nations to build quality health care networks and increase capacity,” U.S. global AIDS coordinator Ambassador Mark Dybul testified March 1 before the House Committee on Appropriations subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, “we are laying the foundation for nations and communities to sustain their efforts against HIV/AIDS and other diseases long after the initial five years of the Emergency Plan.”

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Secretary Rice speaks during the release of the 2006 Country Reports on Human Rights Rractices in Washington. (© AP Images)

[…] With the release of this year's reports, Americans are "recommitting ourselves to stand with those courageous men and women who struggle for their freedom and their rights," Rice said. "And we are recommitting ourselves to call every government to account that still treats the basic rights of its citizens as options rather than, in President Bush's words, the non-negotiable demands of human dignity."

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U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer Mary Armbrust helps Pablo Guzman and his family through customs in Atlanta. (© AP Images)

[…] Travelers to the United States who experience difficulties during airport and train station screenings or at border crossings now can make inquiries or seek resolution at an easy-to-use Internet site.
The Department of Homeland Security launched its new Traveler Redress Inquiry Program (TRIP) February 21 as part of its continuing effort in conjunction with the State Department to balance security needs with the needs of the traveling public.

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