PI Action alerts & updates ... 1997
House / Senate Appropriations Conference Committee
Extends Debate until November 7
Calls in support of highest HIV/AIDS funding
and against needle exchange ban still needed!
The Labor/HHS Appropriations Conference Committee, which is working
out differences between the House and Senate Appropriations bills,
failed to reach agreement by October 1, the first day of Fiscal
Year 1998. The committee has passed a continuing resolution to fund
federal HIV/AIDS programs at current levels until November 7. Meanwhile,
the committee continues to meet and discuss differences in the bills.
The bills have major differences in HIV/AIDS funding—for
example, the House version proposes a $132 million increase for
the AIDS Drug Assistance Program, while the Senate bill offers an
inadequate $50 million increase. In addition, the House version
contains a provision offered by Representatives Tom Coburn (R-OK),
and Roger Wicker (R-MS) that bans the use of federal funds for needle
exchange programs and takes away the authority of the Secretary
of Health and Human Services to end the current ban.
Many congressional staffers have noted the number of constituent
letters and calls they have received on these issues. Grassroots
advocacy is clearly having an impact on the debate and must continue.
Please take the time to place one last call to your U.S. Representative
and two U.S. Senators and ask them to urge the conference committee
to support the highest possible funding levels for all HIV/AIDS
programs and to oppose the House needle exchange provision!
Action Needed:
Please call your U.S. Representative and two U.S. Senators immediately
with the following message:
Sample Phone Message
“I am calling to urge Representative/Senator ___________________
to support the highest possible funding increases for all HIV/AIDS
programs in the Fiscal Year 1998 Labor/HHS Appropriations bill and
to oppose the House provision which bans the use of federal funds
for needle exchange programs. Please convey that message to the
Chairs and Ranking Members of the Conference Committee.”
You can reach the Congressional switchboard toll-free at 1-800-972-3524
and ask to be connected to your elected representatives.
