PI Action alerts & updates ... 2001

Join Grassroots Effort To Fight Global AIDS Crisis

Urge your two U.S. Senators to Support
a $2 Billion Contribution to the Global AIDS and Health Fund

August 20, 2001 — While Congress is unlikely to make decisions on the majority of domestic HIV/AIDS funding immediately, one area where it should take action soon is U.S. funding to fight the international HIV pandemic. It is extremely important that elected officials hear from Americans that funding the international fight against AIDS needs to be a high priority. According to the Health GAP Coalition, there are really no major opponents to this funding, but it doesn’t have enough champions. Treatment Action Network members have played a major role in securing increased funding for many domestic HIV/AIDS programs and we hope that you will take a few minutes this month to make your voice heard on international HIV/AIDS funding. It could be the difference between a meager and a meaningful response by Congress!

Background:
On April 26th, 2001, United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan launched the “Global AIDS and Health Fund”. This international fund is intended to treat and prevent HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria for those without access to medicine, health care, and prevention programs.

This spring, President Bush pledged a $200 million contribution to this fund. While a small step forward, this amount falls well short of the $2 billion asked of the United States and lowered the bar for other contributors. Major donors have scaled back their contributions and the momentum has slowed. Advocates have turned to Congress to increase this pledge.

While the process hasn’t finished in the House of Representatives or the Senate, it appears that the House will approve about the same amount as the President has pledged. It is critical that the Senate propose a much larger amount. The House and Senate will have to meet to negotiate a final amount to send to the President for approval. To prepare for these negotiations, it is crucial that the Senate come to the table with a large number, rather than the smallest!

Constituent pressure is essential to ensure that elected officials make the global AIDS crisis a priority. If everyone who cares about the international AIDS epidemic meets with, calls, or writes a letter to their Senators this month, we could have a major impact in focusing their attention on this issue. Please take a few minutes to respond to this Alert!

What you can do:
Your two U.S. Senators are in their home offices for the month of August during the Congressional recess. Now is an excellent time to contact them about the need for a meaningful contribution to the Global AIDS and Health Fund.

There are three effective ways to make your voice heard on this issue:

Call your two Senators’ district office by the end of August, preferably the week of August 20.
Write a short, personal letter with the same message. Personal letters, especially handwritten, are one of the most effective ways to influence our elected representatives. Taking a few minutes to put your thoughts on paper will go a long way in making this issue a priority for your Senators. If you write the letter before August 24, mail or fax it to your Senators’ district office. If you write it after the 24th, mail or fax it to their offices in Washington, DC (see contact information below). You can use the enclosed sample letter to help craft your message.

A note on email: It is still unknown how effective it is to email your representatives. Many advocates familiar with Capitol Hill, including ex-legislative staffers, insist that emails are not read and counted. Phone calls and mailed or faxed letters are recommended by most advocates. It appears to depend on each representative and his/her staff. We recommend that you call your legislators’ offices and ask their staff if and how email is read and counted in their office. Know in advance each representative’s preferred method of communication.

If you live near your Senators’ district offices, you can try to schedule a brief meeting with him/her during the August recess. It is not as difficult as it seems to get a short meeting. Call the district office and ask to speak to the Senator’s district scheduler. Let him/her know you’re a constituent and ask for a short meeting to discuss international AIDS funding. If the Senator is unavailable, they will likely suggest you meet with a legislative aide. Don’t be offended by this—these staff-members are the eyes and ears of the Senator and will make sure your opinion and arguments are relayed to the Senator. If you schedule a meeting, you might want to contact the Health GAP Coalition for some background information on this issue to help you prepare and to bring to your Senators. Email Paul Davis at pdavis@critpath.org for more information.

Sample phone message:

“I am calling to urge Senator _________________ to support a $2 billion contribution from the United States to the ‘Global AIDS and Health Fund’, created by the UN Secretary General. The U.S. must provide a meaningful contribution to reduce the rate of new HIV infections and provide access to treatment and care to those in need worldwide.”

Contact information:
You can find contact information for your two U.S. Senators by accessing their individual websites through the main U.S. Senate website. Go to www.senate.gov, then click “List Senators By State”. You’ll find links to both of your Senators underneath your state. Each website will have DC and district phone, fax, and mailing addresses.

Sample letter:

The Honorable ___________
U.S. Senate
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senator _______________,

I am writing to urge your support for a $2 billion contribution from the United State to the ‘Global AIDS and Health Fund’. This international fund was created by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to fight AIDS and other infectious diseases worldwide.

President Bush has pledged $200 million to this fund. While a small step forward, this amount is far below what was is estimated to ensure that the fund gets the $9.2 billion it needs to provide adequate access to health care, treatment, facilities, and prevention programs. As a wealthy nation, the United States must be a leader on this issue and raise the bar so that other donors make adequate contributions as well.

Insert personal statement here. Let your Senators know why HIV/AIDS is an important issue to you and why we must do what we can to fight the epidemic internationally.

As you know, escalating HIV infections have lead to untold human suffering worldwide, primarily in Africa and Asia. Please do everything in your power to ensure that our nation is a leader in efforts to create reduce new infections and create a bridge to survival for those without access to medicine.

Sincerely,
Your name

Thank you to the Health GAP Coalition for the information contained in this Alert. To learn more about their efforts, email Paul Davis at pdavis@critpath.org.

Please forward this Alert to your friends, family, colleagues, etc.! Thanks for taking the time to make a difference!