Washington (AP) – House Republican leader John Boehner and other Republicans warn that a successful program to combat AIDS in Africa would be in jeopardy if Democrats move ahead with plans to make changes.

Boehner, R-Ohio, said the Democratic proposal to renew the five-year, $15 billion anti-AIDS effort “will undermine this valuable program as we know it, placing at risk the work it does on behalf of millions.”

In what is shaping up to be a political and ideological showdown, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Tom Lantos, D-Calif., replied that his Democratic proposal reaffirmed the compromise he worked out with the late Rep. Henry Hyde, R-Ill., in 2003. It is a shame, he said, that the GOP minority is “failing to honor this spirit of compromise and is willing to endanger a valuable U.S. foreign policy program addressing one of the most serious health care challenges that humanity faces today.”

The program expires this year and President Bush, who travels to Africa this month, has urged Congress to double funding to $30 billion over the next five years. The President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief is now treating 1.4 million people, with the focus on 15 mostly sub-Saharan African nations.

Democrats, backed by AIDS groups, say that’s still not enough to cope with the continuing HIV/AIDS crisis, and Lantos’ committee next Thursday is to vote on a bill approving $50 billion in funds and making several changes that have enraged social conservatives.

The Lantos bill would eliminate a provision in the 2003 bill requiring that one-third of all prevention spending go to abstinence programs. That amounts to about 7 percent of all spending. Critics say that while they don’t oppose abstinence programs, inflexible funding requirements are counterproductive.

It also would remove a provision stating that all groups receiving money under the program must sign a pledge confirming that they do not support the legalization of prostitution or sex trafficking. The groups still may provide condoms or condom information to prostitutes. The provision, said its author, Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., was designed to “ensure that pimps and brothel owners don’t become U.S. government partners.”

Democrats said studies have shown that some groups will not or cannot make the pledge because of concerns it will alienate women they are trying to reach. Other groups say legalized and controlled prostitution could help slow the spread of HIV infection.

Third, Republicans claimed that the Democratic-written bill undoes carefully crafted rules that allow money to go to family planning groups for AIDS work as long as no money is spent on abortions. That change, Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind., said at a news conference including anti-abortion groups, “would transform the program into a mega-funding pool for organizations with an abortion promotion agenda.”

Lantos said the administration has endorsed a link between family planning and HIV/AIDS programs, and that his bill clarifies that additional contraceptive services may be provided under the law as long as these services are focused on stopping the transmission of HIV/AIDS.

His spokesman, Lynne Weil, said it is clear that funds are not available for abortion and it strengthens the “conscience clause” that allows faith-based groups to opt out of any program to which they have a moral objection.