PI Action alerts & updates ... 2004

Urge your House Representatives to sign three important letters in support of HIV/AIDS funding!

There are three “Dear Colleague” letters circulating in the U.S. House of Representatives asking for badly needed increased funding for HIV/AIDS programs. These are sign-on letters for Members of Congress that will be sent to the House Appropriations Subcommittee making the first decisions on funding for these programs.

A letter from the Congressional Black Caucus supporting $610 million in funding for the Minority HIV/AIDS Initiative (MHAI) in Fiscal Year 2005. MHAI funds services nationwide that address the disproportionate impact that HIV has on communities of color.
A bipartisan letter from Representatives Jim Leach (R-IA) and William Delahunt (D-MA) that supports increased funding for domestic and global HIV/AIDS research, prevention, care, and treatment programs for Fiscal Year 2005. Included in the letter is support for the funding levels requested from HIV/AIDS advocates for these programs.

A bipartisan letter from Representatives Mary Bono (R-CA) and Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ) that supports an increase of $217 million for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) in Fiscal Year 2005. This is the amount identified by treatment experts as necessary to help alleviate the current ADAP crisis. Right now there are nearly 1,300 people on waiting lists for ADAP around the country.

All three of these letters are extremely important vehicles for Members of Congress to show their support for these vital programs and services. The more Members that sign the letters, the better chance we have of getting the money we need.

Please take a few minutes to call your U.S. Representative and urge him/her to sign all three of these letters!

How you can help:
Please call your U.S. House Representative as soon as possible. Ask to speak to the legislative aide who handles HIV/AIDS and healthcare issues. Whether you speak to that person live or leave a message, tell him/her:

Sample message:

“My name is ______________ and I’m a constituent living in Representative ______________’s district. I’m calling to ask the Member to sign three important “Dear Colleague” letters that support HIV/AIDS funding. I would like Representative _______________ to sign the Congressional Black Caucus letter requesting a $610 million increase for the Minority HIV/AIDS Initiative, the Leach/Delahunt letter supporting increased funding for domestic and global HIV/AIDS programs, and the Pascrell/Bono letter supporting adequate funding for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program.”

You can reach your Members of Congress by calling the Congressional switchboard toll-free at 1-800-839-5276. You’ll need to know who your Representative and Senators are in advance.