Tom Donohue's Journal

National Call-in Day to Support Funding for Domestic HIV/AIDS Programs
Tuesday, April 5

CAEAR Coalition is joining with our national partners to urge you to call on Congressional leaders to support full funding for domestic HIV/AIDS programs, including the Ryan White Program, during a national call-in day on Tuesday, April 5.

A number of CAEAR Coalition members will be on Capitol Hill that day carrying this same message and your support will make our presence stronger and our message louder.

Please share this alert with your networks and allies.

Background
• Congress has not passed a final Fiscal Year (FY) 2011 funding bill.
• Short-term FY 2011 funding for government programs runs out on April 8 and domestic programs that support health care and other services for people with HIV/AIDS are at risk for cuts.
• Congress also wants to use policy riders to limit the use of federal funding for important HIV-related programs, such as syringe exchange and public health programs that provide HIV and STD testing and other related medical services; and defund health care reform implementation.
• Congressional leadership is negotiating a final FY 2011 funding bill now and may vote on it sometime over the next few days.

Action Needed
Please call the following Congressional leaders and ask them to support full funding for domestic HIV/AIDS programs, including the Ryan White Program, and no policy riders. (Details on the requested funding amounts can be found here.)
• Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), 202-224-3542
• House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH), 202-225-0600
• Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), 202-224-3135

Message
I am calling to ask the Senator/Speaker to support full funding for domestic HIV/AIDS programs and no policy riders in the final FY11 funding bill!
• Amidst rising infection rates and shrinking state and local budgets, full federal funding for HIV/AIDS programs is more vital than ever. Over 1.1 million people currently are living with HIV and there are an estimated 56,000 new infections annually.
• Early and reliable access to HIV care and treatment help people with HIV live healthy and productive lives and is cost effective. HIV prevention today translates into greater health and less spending in the future.
• In my community, HIV programs are greatly needed, because (insert local details or tell personal story).