PI Action alerts & updates ... 2002
Urge Your Senators To Support Emergency Supplemental Funding for
Global AIDS Program & AIDS Drug Assistance Program
May 22, 2002 — The U.S. Senate is expected to vote very soon
(possibly tomorrow) on an emergency supplemental appropriations
bill. This bill will provide additional funding for a variety of
programs and activities, mainly related to the war against terrorism
and for homeland security. As reported in a previous TAN Alert,
there have been strong efforts to include an emergency supplemental
appropriation for the United Nations’ Global Fund to Fight
HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. The United States’ contribution
for this fund in the final Fiscal Year 2002 appropriations bill
was $200 million, far short of the $2 billion requested. This led
to efforts to encourage Congress to provide additional funding for
this Fund as part of the emergency supplemental appropriations bill.
Two weeks ago, the House Appropriations Committee approved a $200
million emergency supplemental for Global AIDS programs, while rejecting
an amendment that would have provided an additional $750 million.
We then turned to the Senate to support a higher funding level.
Senators Richard Durbin (D-IL) and Arlen Specter (R-PA) planned
to offer an amendment asking the Senate Appropriations Committee
to approve a $700 million emergency supplemental for the Global
AIDS Fund. However, today the Chair of this Committee, Senator Robert
Byrd (D-WV), did not allow the amendment to come up for a vote,
and only $100 million was included.
The bill will now be voted on by the entire Senate. Advocates are
urging U.S. Senators to co-sponsor the Durbin/Specter amendment
so that there is a strong showing of support. This is the last opportunity
to get a substantial emergency increase for the Global AIDS Fund.
In addition, advocates for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP)
are encouraging Congress to include an emergency supplemental appropriation
of $82 million for that program as well. ADAPs provide access to
treatment for low-income people living with HIV/AIDS who are uninsured
or without adequate prescription drug coverage. As we’ve reported
in many TAN Alerts, many state ADAPs are facing serious financial
crises and having trouble meeting the needs of those they serve.
As many as eleven states are currently implementing waiting lists
or other restrictions to treatment access with many others expected
to do the same. An emergency supplemental would go a long way in
dealing with this problem.
While there is not yet a Senator willing to offer an amendment
supporting this supplemental for ADAP, is it important that our
Senators know about the need for emergency funding for this lifesaving
program.
You can help with these efforts by calling your U.S. Senators right
now and asking them to support these two emergency supplemental
requests!
Action needed:
The Senate is expected to vote on this bill very soon, possibly
as early as tomorrow (Thursday, May 23). The only way to ensure
that your input is considered in time is to call your Senators’
DC offices. Emails will very likely not be read in time.
Please call your two U.S. Senators immediately with the following
message:
“I am calling to urge Senator ____________
to co-sponsor the Durbin/Specter amendment to the emergency supplemental
appropriations bill that would provide $700 million in additional
funding for the Global AIDS fund. In addition, I urge the Senator
to support a $82 million emergency supplemental appropriation for
the AIDS Drug Assistance Program. AIDS continues to be a domestic
and global health crisis and Congress must do everything in its
power to fight this epidemic at home and abroad.”
Contact information:
You can reach your Senators through the Capitol Switchboard, 202-224-3121.
Please forward this Alert to your family, friends, and colleagues!
Thanks to ACT UP/Philadelphia and Health GAP Coalition for providing
much of the information contained in this Alert.
