PI Action alerts & updates ... 2004
TAN Update
In this update:
Urge your Representative to sign important
AIDS housing letter
Volunteers from key states needed to write letters
to the editor on Early Treatment for HIV Act
AIDSWATCH-the national constituent HIV/AIDS lobby days
1. Urge your Representative to sign important
AIDS housing letter:
U.S. Representatives Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Joseph Crowley (D-NY),
and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) are urging their colleagues in the
House of Representatives to sign a letter in support of adequate
funding for the Housing Opportunities for People With AIDS (HOPWA)
program. This program helps cities and states design and provide
community-based, cost-effective housing for people living with AIDS
and their families.
The letter, which will be sent to Rep. James Walsh (R-NY), Chair
of the House Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs, Housing and Urban
Development, and Independent Agencies, asks the Subcommittee to
fund HOPWA at $350 million for Fiscal Year 2005, which starts on
October 1st of this year. This is the amount recommended by the
National AIDS Housing Coalition and supported by other HIV/AIDS
advocates, including Project Inform.
HOPWA has received highly inadequate increases in recent years,
and once again President Bush has asked for no increase for this
important program. Stable housing is a vital part of helping people
be able to access care and treatment. Please take a few minutes
to call your U.S. Representative and urge him/her to sign this letter.
What you can do:
Please call your U.S. Representative’s DC office as soon as
possible (and no later than April 1, the deadline for signatures).
Tell whoever answers the phone:
Sample phone message:
“I am calling to urge Representative ______________
to sign the letter by Representatives Nadler, Crowley, and Ros-Lehtinen
that urges the appropriations committee to fund the Housing Opportunities
for People With AIDS program at $350 million for Fiscal Year 2005.”
Note: You don’t need to call your Senators as this letter
is for House Representatives only.
If the person on the phone asks who the Representative needs to
contact to sign the letter, tell them David Greengrass of Rep. Nadler’s
staff (if your Rep. is a Democrat) or Russell Wojtusiak of Rep.
Ros-Lehtinen’s staff (if your Rep. is a Republican).
You can reach your Members of Congress by calling the Congressional
switchboard toll-free at 1-800-839-5276. Ask to be connected to
your Representative’s office. You’ll need to know who
they are in advance. If you don’t know who represents you,
go to www.vote-smart.org.
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2. Volunteers from key states needed
to write letters to the editor on Early Treatment for HIV Act (ETHA)
As reported in a recent TAN Alert, the House version of the Early
Treatment for HIV Act (ETHA) was introduced last month with bipartisan
support. Right now, efforts are focused on securing more cosponsors,
particularly among Republicans. The longer the list of cosponsors
(and the more bipartisan the list) the better the chance that this
bill will be considered for debate and a vote.
We are looking for people from some key states to volunteer to
write a letter to the editor of their local newspaper. These states
include Alabama, California, Connecticut, Florida, Iowa, Illinois,
New York, New Jersey and Washington. These are states where at least
one Republican House member has signed on as a cosponsor. The letter
to the editor would thank those Members—and all in the state
who have signed on—for working in a bipartisan manner to increase
access to care/treatment for people with HIV. It would also encourage
all Representatives in the state to cosponsor the bill.
If you are from one of these states, and are willing to write a
letter, please contact Ryan Clary at rclary@projectinform.org for
a sample letter and more information.
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3. AIDSWATCH-the national constituent HIV/AIDS
lobby days
On May 17–19, hundreds of advocates from around the country
will come to Washington, DC for AIDSWATCH. This annual event, coordinated
by the National Association of People With AIDS (NAPWA), is the
largest constituent-based federal advocacy and education activity
of the year.
AIDSWATCH participants meet with their U.S. Senators, Representative
and key staff to tell them directly about the need for adequate
funding for all HIV/AIDS domestic and global programs. These legislative
meetings allow our elected officials to see the faces and hear the
stories behind the statistics. They are also one of the most effective
forms of advocacy.
Traveling to Washington, DC is expensive, but many AIDSWATCH participants
have found creative ways to raise money. Once you register for the
event, you will be paired with a state coordinator who might be
able to help with fundraising.
In addition, AIDS Service Organizations are encouraged to send
a client or active community member to ensure that people with HIV
in their area are represented.
Registration materials and information about the event are available
on NAPWA’s website, www.napwa.org.
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