Mon, Jul 21, 2008 (2:06 a.m.)

It is rare to find President Bush and the Democratic-controlled Congress on the same page, especially in an election year. Whether it is the war in Iraq, offshore oil drilling or health insurance, it always seems as though the Republican administration and Congress are gearing up for the type of rumble “West Side Story” gave us with the rival street gangs the Jets and the Sharks.

That’s why we’re glad the two sides have agreed to join forces in the battle against the spread of AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis in Africa.

The Senate did its part last week by overwhelmingly approving a $48 billion package to be spent over the next five years to fight the potentially fatal diseases. That is $2 billion less than the amount approved by the House. But House negotiators are reportedly onboard with the Senate’s intent to spend the $2 billion on American Indian health and water projects, which are also worthy causes.

Bush has said he would sign a bill that will more than triple the current $15 billion spending plan that expires in September.

Part of what is refreshing about the action on Capitol Hill is that this nation too often has either ignored or been slow to react to crises in Africa, such as starvation and genocide. It would indeed be a welcome trend if this relief bill spurred Congress and the president to devote more energy to issues confronting that continent.

Our only regret is that a recalcitrant group of Republicans in the Senate held up passage of the bill, which meant that it did not pass before the president attended the G-8 summit of industrialized nations in Japan this month. Bush could have used the legislation as leverage to encourage other wealthy nations to increase their involvement in the fight against AIDS.

Our hope now is that the rest of the world takes America’s generosity to heart and steps up funding to help eradicate diseases that have claimed the lives of tens of millions of Africans. As humanitarian efforts go, this should top the list.