Budget

Federal and state funding for HIV-related prevention, care, housing and research is vital in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Without these funds, ten of thousands of individuals living with HIV would not have access to life-saving medications and needed support services and hundreds of thousands more would not benefit from government research and prevention efforts.

Over the last two decades, HIV advocates have led the way in demanding needed increases for HIV/AIDS-related programs. As a result of these efforts, the federal government today provides over $22 billion for domestic and global HIV/AIDS activities.  California currently provides over $130 million for HIV/AIDS medications for low-income residents. Unfortunately, the growth in HIV-related funding has slowed in recent years, failing to keep pace with the growing numbers of people living with HIV in California and the United States. More must be done to ensure that government provides the resources necessary to end the epidemic.

2011 July 26 - CONGRESSIONAL CALL-IN DAY TO SUPPORT HIV/AIDS PROGRAMS!

Tell your Senators and Representative that cutting programs vital to people with HIV/AIDS is no way to reduce the deficit - we need a fair and balanced approach now!

BACKGROUND:

• Congressional negotiations to reduce the federal deficit are still stuck, putting at risk critical services upon which millions of Americans rely, including persons living with HIV/AIDS.
• The Ryan White Program, Medicaid, Medicare, housing, prevention and other programs that make up the safety net for vulnerable Americans with HIV/AIDS and the NIH-supported research that holds the keys to ending the pandemic are all on the line.
• Congress is negotiating now to reduce the deficit and Congress is scheduled to vote on this isssue this week, so we need to exert pressure now!

ACTION NEEDED:

Please call your Senators and Representative and tell them to prevent harmful cuts and caps to health care and low-income programs, including those that impact persons with HIV/AIDS, in negotiations to reduce the deficit -- we need a fair and balanced approach now!  Please make these critical calls today!

• To call your Senators and Representative, dial the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121.

MESSAGE:

Please call with this message: I am calling to ask my Senator/Representative to prevent harmful cuts and caps to health care, research, and low-income programs, including those that impact persons living with HIV/AIDS, such as the Ryan White Program, Medicaid, Medicare, housing, and prevention programs!  We need a fair and balanced approach now!
• Balancing the budget on the backs of vulnerable Americans, including those living with HIV, is wrong, will potentially cost lives, and will cut jobs in the health care and human needs sectors. 
• Early and reliable access to HIV care, treatment, and support helps people with HIV live healthy and productive lives and is cost effective.  Investing in HIV prevention today translates into greater health and less spending in the future.
• In my state/district, such programs are greatly needed, because (insert local details or tell personal story).

FINALLY:

Let us know that you made the call...

I did it!

This alert is being sent by the AIDS Budget and Appropriations Coalition (ABAC), a working group of the Federal AIDS Policy Partnership (FAPP), a coalition of over one hundred national and community-based HIV/AIDS and public health organizations that represent people living with HIV/AIDS, HIV medical provider and researchers, and advocates, as well as community organizations that provide critical HIV related health care and support services.  ABAC advocates for increased resources for domestic HIV/AIDS programs across the federal government.