Congress Must Commit Sufficient Funding to AIDS Programming

On December 5, 2000, Congress and the White House will return to work on appropriation bills that will set fiscal year 2001 funding for health and human service programs, including several AIDS-related programs. Although the Clinton Administration and congressional leaders had negotiated a compromise before the election, it was rescinded at the last minute, leaving a great deal of AIDS funding up in the air.

The Labor/Health and Human Services appropriations bill, yet to be finalized, provides funding for AIDS prevention, care, and research programs. Before budget negotiations stalled, congressional leaders agreed to an $85 million increase in HIV prevention programs through the CDC, a $196 million increase for Ryan White CARE services, a $45 million increase for substance abuse treatment and prevention services, and a $100 million increase for the Congressional Black Caucus' Minority HIV/AIDS Initiative.

Legislators MUST NOT let funding drop below the amounts set forth in the early compromise.

National AIDS advocacy organizations, including the AIDS Foundation of Chicago, are urging congressional leaders and the White House to ensure that the final budget agreement includes funding amounts for AIDS programs that are no lower than the preliminary amounts negotiated in October. In addition, AIDS advocates are urging lawmakers and the Administration to bring about a budget compromise quickly, as the delay in designating funding amounts will likely cause delays in program funding at the local level.

TAKE ACTION:

Contact House Speaker Dennis Hastert at (202) 225-0600 with this message:

"In the Labor/HHS bill, please support the highest funding possible for AIDS programs. Use the figures from the earlier compromise as a base-level, and don't let funding fall below those levels."

Please forward a copy of this alert to your friends, colleagues and clients. Contact AFC policy staff at (312) 922-2322 if you have any questions or comments or wish to report on your efforts generating calls.