Alert Archives

Action Alert: Call Congress BEFORE October 13, 2011 to Protect Ryan White and Other HIV Programs in the Deficit Reduction Package

Between now and October 14, all members of Congress can make recommendations to the 12 members of the deficit reduction super committee about how to reduce the federal deficit. It is important that your members of Congress hear from YOU about the HIV community's priorities.

The super committee must make a proposal to Congress by November 23. If it doesn't, there will be automatic cuts to programs in all federal agencies, which could seriously harm programs and services for people with HIV and AIDS. (Or, if the committee's proposal doesn't cut at least $1.2 trillion, automatic cuts will make up the difference.) If automatic cuts are triggered, certain "entitlement" programs for poor and low income individuals and families, such as Medicaid, will not be affected.

Action Needed
Call or email your U.S. Representative and two U.S. Senators by October 13. Urge them to support the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program and the HIV community's larger priorities when they talk to the super committee about ways to reduce the federal deficit. If one of your Senators or your Representative is a member of the super committee, your call is especially important!

You can be connected to your member of Congress by calling the Capitol Switchboard, 202-224-3121 or look them up via the link below.

Message
"I am a constituent, and I am calling to ask the Senator/Representative to support the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program and the HIV community's priorities throughout the deficit reduction process. These are our top priorities:

1. No cuts to the Ryan White Program in the deficit reduction packet


2. Deficit reduction must be fair and balanced, and must include raising revenues.


3. Any approach to deficit reduction must protect vulnerable populations and maintain the federal commitment to the fight against HIV/AIDS by funding prevention, care and treatment, research, housing and support services.


4. It is essential to preserve the federal commitment to the Medicaid and Medicare programs.


5. We oppose deficit reduction strategies that would jeopardize health care reforms already underway.

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!

• 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 andthe 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!

You can be connected to your member of Congress by calling the Capitol Switchboard, 202-224-3121. Or look them up via the link below.

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).



Urge Your Senators to Sign Sen. Gillibrand's "Dear Colleague" Letter in Support of the Domestic HIV Portfolio

URGENT. Deadline is TODAY, Thursday, June 9, for Senators to Sign the Letter

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) is circulating a "Dear Colleague" letter in support of funding increases for the domestic HIV/AIDS portfolio, including the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program. It is important that we get as many senators to sign this letter as possible and there is only one day to do it.

Pleae call your senators THIS MORNING and urge them to sign the letter. Remind your senators that:

• The need for HIV/AIDS care and treatment is growing
• The Ryan White Program works
• Ryan White-funded programs are economic engines in their communities
• State budget cuts have created an immediate funding crisis
• Requested increases authorized in legislation

The letter is available at the link to the right. You may need to email or fax this letter to the staff in your senators' offices as they may not have a copy.

Call ASAP. Senator Gillibrand must submit this letter to the Appropriations Committe on Friday.

You can contact your senators through the Senate switchboard at 202-224-3121 or through their web sites, which are accessible at www.senate.gov.

To sign on to the letter, Senate offices should contact Heather Loneck at heather_loneck@gillibrand.senate.gov or 202-224-3460 in Senator Gillibrand's office.

Please note: only senators can sign this letter. Individuals or organizations cannot sign the letter and should not contact Sen. Gillibrand's office to sign on.

Urge Your Senators to Support Increased Ryan White Program Funding in FY 2012

Call Now. Deadline for Senate Letters is Friday, June 10, 2011

Senators are currently in the process of submitting their FY 2012 appropriations priorities to the Appropriations Committee. We need as many senators as possible to request increased support for the Ryan White Program, especially for our priority areas of Part A, Part C, ADAP and the AETCs.

Download the CAEAR Coalition FY 2012 Funding Request Chart at right and urge your Senators to include these funding priorities in their letters to the committee. Remind your senators that:

• The need for HIV/AIDS care and treatment is growing
• The Ryan White Program works
• Ryan White-funded programs are economic engines in their communities
• State budget cuts have created an immediate funding crisis
• Requested increases authorized in legislation

The talking points at right offer more details.

Call ASAP. Senators are working on their letters now and are due to the Appropriations Committee this Friday, June 10.

You can be connected to your senators by calling the Capitol Switchboard, 202-224-3121. Members of Congress can also be contacted through their web sites, which are accessible at www.senate.gov

National Call-in Day to Support Funding for Domestic HIV/AIDS Programs

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

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.

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).

Urge Congress Not to Cut the Ryan White Program This Year (2/7/2011)

FY2011 Budget Mandates Threaten Funding

Members of the House of Representatives are making important funding decisions over the next few days about funding for federal programs for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2011. The House Budget Committee has cut the funds available for labor, health and education programs below current Fiscal Year 2010 spending levels by 4% and 8% below President Obama's spending request for the current fiscal year. WE MUST ACT NOW.

As the House decides how to make these cuts to health programs tell them that the Ryan White Program needs more funding, not less. No cuts to Ryan White in 2011.

Call your House member and tell them:

*All components of the Ryan White Program must be protected
Over 6,000 people in the U.S. are currently on waiting lists for AIDS drugs that can save their lives. Hundreds of other Americans are denied access to medical care and drugs because of restrictive eligibility criteria established to save money but endangering lives. Funding for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) is crucial and must be maintained, but funding ADAP is not enough. Those 6,000 people waiting for ADAP and hundreds of others excluded from access because of local eligibility criteria need medical care, laboratory diagnostics and enabling services that support adherence in people living with HIV. Getting on and staying on treatment are critical to reducing the community viral load and preventing new HIV infections.

*With more HIV tests, care costs are increasing
Researchers estimate that CDC's expanded HIV testing guidelines will bring an additional 46,000 people into care over five years and reduce the 21% of people living with HIV but not in care. Researchers say that caring for individuals early in their disease will increase the cost of care by $2.7 billion over five years and that the majority of those care costs will fall to federal discretionary programs like the Ryan White Program and will not be offset by entitlement programs. Ryan White needs more resources, not less.

*Cuts will have consequences in our district
Call your members in the House of Representatives today and urge them to stand with us to protect the Ryan White Program. Please use the experiences of your area to tell your member of Congress and their staffers the number of people who would be denied specific kinds of care if Ryan White received cuts. Identify the most unmet need of your community and explain how it is supported by Ryan White. The more specific you can be in terms of the impact of the cuts, the better they will understand what is at stake.

Make an appointment in the district office to let them know that Ryan White is important to the district for these reasons: (XXX people receive medical care, XXX people receive case management and treatment adherence services. Highlight whatever services are at risk in your jurisdiction.)

The House will most likely be voting on these issues this week or next. Please call now.

You can be connected to your member of Congress by calling the Capitol Switchboard, 202-224-3121. Or look them up via the link below.



Urge Your House Member to Vote for Health Care Reform and Support Inclusion of the Early Treatment for HIV Act (ETHA)

The health care reform vote is happening this week in the House of Representatives! Make sure your member stands with us in support of reform and the inclusion of ETHA. ETHA would add HIV coverage to Medicaid rather than forcing people living with HIV to wait until they are diagnosed with AIDS to get care. The health care reform bill:

Reforms Public Insurance

1. Creates Medicaid eligibility for those with income below 133% FPL. This is significant. Right now Alabama is at just 11% of FPL and other states aren't much better. It will help reduce the ADAP crisis.
2. Eliminates the Medicare Part D donut hole and allows ADAP as TrOOP.

Reforms Private Insurance Reform

1. Increases access - largely eliminates discrimination based on health status.
2. Increases coverage - new mandated benefits package that includes prescription drugs, substance abuse and mental health treatment, preventative care, chronic disease management.
3. Increases affordability - subsidies and caps that dramatically reduce costs to consumers.

Creates Other Key Improvements

1. Invests $15 billion in prevention and wellness initiatives over 10 years including addressing health disparities, clinical workforce serving vulnerable populations, public health infrastructure.
2. Mandates integration of Ryan White providers.

CALL NOW!

Urge your member to: Vote for reform and support the inclusion of ETHA.

You can be connected to your member of Congress by calling the Capitol Switchboard, 202-224-3121.

Urge Your House Member/Delegation to Sign Dear Colleague Letters in Support of AIDS Funding (3/3/2010)

The FY 2011 appropriations process is moving into high gear. Our allies in the House are circulating Dear Colleague letters in support of funding increases for the domestic AIDS programs, including the Ryan White Program. Please urge your House member/delegation to sign both the Dear Colleague letter in support of all domestic HIV/AIDS programs and a separate Dear Colleague letter being circulated in support of the Minority AIDS Initiative.

Domestic HIV/AIDS Programs Dear Colleague Letter

Representatives Pascrell, Baldwin, Capuano and Waters are circulating a Dear Colleague letter asking the Appropriations Committee to provide increases in funding to HIV/AIDS activities, including the Ryan White Program, CDC, and HOPWA. Members of Congress who wish to sign the letter should contact Mandy Spears in the Office of Rep. Pascrell no later than COB March 11.

Minority AIDS Initiative Dear Colleague Letter

Representative Maxine Waters is circulating a Dear Colleague letter asking the Appropriations Committee to provide an appropriation of $610 million for the Minority AIDS Initiative. Reps. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Madeleine Bordallo, Donna Christensen, Lucille Roybal-Allard, and Bill Pascrell are circulating the letter along with Rep. Waters. Reps. Clarke, Ellison, Grijalva, Gutierrez, Hank Johnson, McDermott, Gwen Moore, Norton, Rangel, Towns, Waxman, and Wu have also agreed to sign. Other Members of Congress have until March 11 to sign. Members of Congress who wish to sign the letter should contact Kathleen Sengstock in Office of Rep. Waters no later than COB March 11.

Please note that ONLY Members of Congress can sign these letters. Individuals or organizations should not contact the offices of Rep. Pascrell or Rep. Waters to sign on.

You can be connected to your member of Congress by calling the Capitol Switchboard, 202-224-3121. Members of Congress can also be contacted through their web sites, which are accessible at www.senate.gov and www.house.gov. If you are unsure who your House member is, input your zip code in the "Find Your Representative" tool on the upper left corner of the www.house.gov home page.

Please contact the CAEAR Coalition office with any questions or if you need additional materials or support - info@caear.org, 202-789-3565.

Now is the Time to Thank Our Allies in Congress for Program Extension and Push for Increased Funding (11/2/2009)

With the recent signature of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act of 2009 by President Obama, the campaign to safeguard Ryan White Program services has come to a successful conclusion. We would like to again offer thanks to all who organized, called, wrote, and faxed to your Members of Congress in support of Ryan White Program extension. The sustained, broad support was felt in Congress and certainly contributed to the outcome and to the bill that we have today.

If you have not already done so, please take a few minutes to thank your members of Congress for their support and urge their support for increased resources in FY 2011. See below for details on these two messages.

Thanking Our Congressional Allies

Please thank your Senators and your House member for supporting the extension with a call, email or faxed letter. If you are represented by Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA), Sen. Mike Enzi (R-WY), Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA), Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX), Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ), or Rep. Nathan Deal (R-GA), please make a special effort to thank them for their leadership on the issue.

Nine House members voted against extension - Reps. Kevin Brady (R-TX), Paul Broun (R-GA), John Duncan (R-TN), Jeff Flake (R-AZ), Virginia Foxx (R-NC), Louie Gohmert (R-TX), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Ron Paul (R-TX), and Ted Poe (R-TX). If you are in one of those districts, you may wish to express your disappointment in their vote.

You can be connected to your members of Congress by calling the Capitol Switchboard, 202-224-3121. Members of Congress can also be contacted through their web sites, which are accessible at www.senate.gov and www.house.gov. If you are unsure who your House member is, input your zip code in the "Find Your Representative" tool on the upper left corner of the www.house.gov home page.