PI Action alerts & updates ... 1997

Post Election Update

1996 brought many important victories for people living with HIV and AIDS. Many of these victories were directly related to individuals, including members of the Treatment Action Network, making their voice heard on significant issues. TAN members spoke at conferences, met with their elected officials, wrote letters, sent emails, made phone calls, and engaged their friends, family and neighbors.

Funding for HIV/AIDS care and treatment programs increased $239 million through the Ryan White CARE Act. Perhaps most notable is an increase of $115 million for AIDS Drug Assistance Programs nationally. This increase was largely due to efforts of advocates, and leaders in the House of Representatives, including Representatives Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and John Porter (R-IL). And, at the last moment, an additional $25 million was ensured for housing for people with AIDS, a pressing and critical problem in many areas.

In addition, President Clinton held the line on Medicaid funding and badly conceived Medicaid reform. Insurance reform legislation, although much less comprehensive than was needed, does promise more portability of insurance for those with pre-existing conditions, although it carries no guarantee of affordability.

1996 also held threats for some of the most vulnerable people in our country. Savings in the federal budget were sought through diminishing or destroying long established safety nets for the poor and disabled without adequate plans for transitions which would protect people’s basic needs. Additionally, attacks on immigrants and undocumented residents escalated, and benefits to legal immigrants in need were reduced or eliminated.

The 1996 elections have brought a different and most likely more hostile climate for AIDS funding and programs and for the services which help others in need. Although these elections weren’t given the dramatic coverage of the 1994 Republican “sweep”, the atmosphere in Congress may be even more difficult for AIDS and other related issues. Although the balance of power in Congress remains basically the same, many moderates in the Senate retired last year, causing a shake-up in the important committees which review many AIDS issues. These new Senators are generally considered more conservative than their predecessors, and some of the retirees had shown themselves to be allies in debates on AIDS issues. We will be reporting on important committee changes in the next TAN alert.

The House now has a very slim margin of Republican majority—in fact the smallest majority in 4 decades—which should lead to more bi-partisan collaboration. However, the ethical issues facing both the Republican House leadership and the Clinton administration are probably a wild card as they have already exacerbated partisan divides. Among the good news of the 1996 elections was the victory of Loretta Sanchez over Representative Bob Dornan in an important southern California race. Rep. Dornan has been a vocal disruption in the House of Representatives, touting anti-gay/ lesbian and generally reactionary politics throughout his tenure. He was the author of the amendment to force the discharge of HIV+ servicemembers, which was overturned by Congress last year. In addition several other right-wing members of the House were defeated. Again, we will soon report on committee changes in the House, although they are much smaller in scope.

In addition to changes in Congress, President Clinton has declared balancing the budget by 2002 as one of his higher priorities. We can expect that attempts will be made to achieve this goal by taking funds from programs which are more politically vulnerable, such as health and social service programs that serve the most in need. Our first TAN alert reflects the beginning of that process, addressing proposed cuts to Medicaid. Among the other important issues we can expect to see this year are the ongoing funding battle, the appointment of a new Food and Drug Administration (FDA) commissioner, reauthorization of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), adequate funding for health care and treatment, and mandatory testing issues.

Given the work ahead of us, your voice is more important than ever. Many people think that there must be thousands of people affected by potential Medicaid cuts who will be leading the fight. That is not the case. Many of those on Medicaid are involved with the day to day struggle of existence with difficult financial burdens or advanced illness. Administration officials have told us that the only people they are hearing from are from the HIV/AIDS community. Please help secure this program for the people who need it.

Thank you for all of your work over the past year. We encourage you to join the 1997 effort and perhaps find a friend or two to help as well. If you know anything about any of the new members of Congress and their stance or position on AIDS issues, please let us know. Also if you have any pressing concerns about a federal issue you feel is not being addressed, please get back to us. Together, a difference can be made and TAN members continue to prove that fact.