PI Action alerts & updates ... 2001

House Subcommittee Approves Modest But Inadequate Increases for HIV/AIDS Programs

Call Your U.S. Senators This Week-Urge Them To Fight For Full Funding

Last week, the House Labor-Health and Human Services (HHS) Appropriations Subcommittee voted on funding levels for HIV/AIDS care, treatment, prevention, and research programs for Fiscal Year 2002. The good news is that the Subcommittee approved over $200 million in increased funding for HIV/AIDS programs and the result is a big improvement over President Bush’s proposed budget. Thank you to everyone who participated in last week’s “Call To Commitment” action your efforts clearly helped focus attention on the needs of people living with HIV/AIDS.

Unfortunately, the proposed increases are far short of what is needed to provide adequate HIV/AIDS care, treatment, and prevention services. Treatment Action Network members have been particularly active on securing funding for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP), which provides HIV treatments to low-income uninsured and underinsured people living with HIV/AIDS across the country. Many state ADAPs are currently experiencing difficulties meeting the needs of their clients. Last year, Congress appropriated a $61 million increase for ADAP, far less than the $130 million identified by experts as needed to meet growing demand on the program. The impact of this underfunding is being reported by many states. Nine states have closed enrollment to new clients. By the end of this fiscal year, seven more states may cap enrollment or implement program restrictions. Currently, there are over 600 people on ADAP waiting lists, and the number is expected to increase.

This year, advocates are asking for a $120 million increase for ADAP. However, the House Labor-HHS Subcommittee approved an inadequate $60 million increase. Your help is needed to encourage the Senate to increase this figure to $120 million, and to approve adequate increases for all HIV/AIDS programs!

While the full House Appropriations Committee, and the entire House of Representatives must still vote on the Subcommittee’s recommendations, advocates are focusing efforts on the U.S. Senate. The Senate will pass its own version of the appropriations bill. Then, a joint House/Senate conference committee will meet to work out differences. The Senate must approve higher increases than the House before going into those negotiations.

Action needed:
Please call your two U.S. Senators this week with the following message:

“I am calling to urge Senator _____________ to do everything in his/her power to provide the highest possible increases for all HIV/AIDS programs. While I appreciate the increases passed by the House Labor-HHS Subcommittee, they are not sufficient to meet the growing demand for services.”

Remember to be personal in your message! If you or someone you care about depends on federally-funded services like the AIDS Drug Assistance Program, let them know.

Contact information:
You can find telephone numbers for your U.S. Senators on their homepages. Go to www.senate.gov.

Please distribute this Alert widely and ask your friends, family, colleagues, etc. to take action!