BETHESDA, MD – Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called on the United States and its allies to scale up their funding for HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment to “change the course of this pandemic and usher in an AIDS-free generation.” Clinton made her statement during a speech at the National Institute of Health (NIH) last week.

“I want the American people to understand the irreplaceable role the US has played in the fight against HIV/AIDS. It is their tax dollars, our tax dollars, that have made this possible and we need to keep going,” she said. “Creating an HIV-free population has never been a government priority until today. Today it is possible because of scientific advances largely funded by the United States.”

Later Clinton announced that Ellen DeGeneres has been named as a Special Envoy for Global AIDS Awareness. “I’m honored to have been chosen by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton as Special Envoy for Global AIDS awareness. The fight against AIDS is something that has always been close to my heart and I’m happy that I can use my platform to educate people and spread hope. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go look up what ‘envoy’ means,” DeGeneres said in a written statement.