PI Action alerts & updates ... 2003
Urge Your Representative To Sign
the Pascrell/Bono Letter Supporting ADAP Funding
As we’ve reported in previous Alerts, the AIDS Drug Assistance
Program (ADAP) is facing a major financial crisis and many states
are unable to meet the needs of those who depend on the program
for their HIV treatment. Currently, 15 states have had to close
enrollment to new ADAP clients or impose other limits to treatment
access. Another 7 states are expected to implement similar measures
this year.
The situation is even more grim when considering recent actions
by Congress. The appropriations process for Fiscal Year 2004 is
off to a very bad start. Both the House and Senate Appropriations
Committees have approved very inadequate increases for ADAPs and
other HIV/AIDS programs ($39 million and $25 million increases for
ADAP respectively). These amounts fall far short of the $283 million
identified by treatment experts as the minimum increase needed to
alleviate the ADAP crisis and serve those in need.
House Representatives Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ) and Mary Bono (R-CA)
have taken a leadership role in addressing this crisis by authoring
a sign-on letter supporting full funding for ADAP in the Fiscal
Year 2004 appropriations bill. A strong bipartisan list of signatures
will help bring this issue to the attention of leaders in the House
of Representatives.
You can help by urging your House Representative to sign this important
letter!
What you can do:
Please call your U.S. House Representative in the Washington, DC
office. The deadline for signing this letter is the end of day Friday,
July 25, so call immediately. Ask to speak to the Member’s
legislative aide who handles HIV/healthcare issues. Whether you
speak live to the aide or leave a message, let them know that you
want your Representative to sign the Pascrell/Bono letter in support
of AIDS Drug Assistance Program funding. You can use the following
sample language to craft your message.
NOTE:Only House Representatives can sign this letter. You don’t
need to contact your U.S. Senators at this time.
“I am calling to urge Representative ___________
to sign the letter authored by Representatives Pascrell and Bono
in support of increased funding for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program.
This program provides access to treatment for low-income people
with HIV/AIDS. It is currently facing a fiscal crisis and unable
to meet the need of those who depend on it. I hope that Representative
__________ will sign this letter and do everything in his/her power
to secure adequate funding for this lifesaving program.”
Contact information:
You can call the Capitol Switchboard toll-free at 1-800-839-5276.
Ask to be connected to your Representative.
Don’t know who your representatives are? Call 1-888-VOTE-SMART
or visit www.vote-smart.org.
Please forward this Alert widely. Thanks for your quick response!
