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The White House considers aid to Africa, including a global HIV/AIDS initiative, a signature piece of Bush's foreign policy, The New York Times reported.

However, plans to renew the aid -- which includes $50 billion for the HIV/AIDS initiative -- have sputtered in Congress as several Republican senators balked at some of its provisions.

Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., said the bill is too expensive when the United States is experiencing massive budget deficits.

Tony Fratto, White House deputy press secretary said the president remained "very optimistic" that Congress would pass the global AIDS bill eventually.

"All of the discussions have been positive", he said.

During remarks Tuesday about his pending trip to Japan for the Group of Eight summit, Bush also urged other G8 members to "write checks for the sake of human rights and human dignity" and fulfill a 2005 pledge to increase financial assistance to Africa.

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