Here's an opportunity to put those white bands to work by dialing your Senators TOMORROW and support increased funding for the Global Fund in the FY 2006 budget.
Live8 was GREAT but the only thing that will save the lives of millions of people in Africa is YOUR VOICE IN DIRECT ACTIONS LIKE THIS.
I hope that you will PUT YOUR WHITE BAND TO WORK tomorrow for Africa.
Thank you for your concern.
GLOBAL AIDS ALLIANCE
ACTION ALERT - July 15, 2005
Call Senators TODAY to Urge a Higher Contribution to the Global Fund
to Fight AIDS, Tb and Malaria
Senate Considering this Issue July 15-19!
ISSUE: Most of the US contribution to the cost-effective Global Fund
to Fight AIDS, Tb and Malaria is provided through the foreign
operations spending bill. The full Senate will soon vote on this
bill. As currently written, the bill does not contain enough for
the Global Fund. The US should keep its promises to the Fund,
otherwise the it will not be able to renew previous grants or issue
new grants to high-quality health programs that save lives.
There will likely be an attempt to amend the bill on the Senate
floor to increase the contribution. The vote will likely take place
July 18th or 19th. We need this amendment to succeed!
TAKE ACTION:
==> Call your Senators and ask to speak with the staffer who handles
foreign aid appropriations. 202-224-3121. Emphasize you want your
Senator to initiate or support an amendment to the foreign aid bill
that would increase the amount for the Global Fund. Also fax a
letter of concern. You do not have to be an expert. Faxes and calls
really matter!
You will find a handy directory here:
http://takeaction.stopglobalaids.org/directory/index.asp
TALKING POINTS:
· I am calling about the foreign operations spending bill now
being debated on the Senate floor. The US promised to fully support
the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tb and Malaria. So, I urge you to
initiate or support an amendment that increases the US contribution
to the Fund. The amount specified in the bill as written is far
below what the US should provide.
· So far, each dollar from the US has been matched by two
dollars from other nations. Canada, Italy, France and others are
contributing, so the US should as well. Unless the US contribution
is increased, our contribution to the Fund will be much less than
one-third of all contributions for 2006.
· Unless an amendment passes, the Fund will not be able to
help countries improve their healthcare systems or expand access to
prevention and treatment of killer diseases.
· We have to find a way to keep our promise to the Fund.
Health threats are putting global security at risk.
SAMPLE LETTER:
I am deeply concerned about the foreign operations spending bill now
being debated on the Senate floor. The US promised to fully support
the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tb and Malaria. So, I urge you to
initiate or support an amendment that increases the US contribution
to the Fund. The amount specified in the bill as written is far
below what the US should provide.
Other donors to the Fund, such as Canada, Italy, France and others
are doing their fair share, so the US should as well. So far, each
dollar from the US has been matched by two dollars from other
nations. Unless the US contribution is increased, our contribution
to the Fund will be much less than one-third of all contributions
for 2006.
The Fund is doing excellent work in helping Rwanda cope with the
legacy of genocide. It is also saving lives in Russia, India, and
many other places not fully reached by US programs. Unless we fully
support it, the Fund will not be able to help countries improve
their healthcare systems or expand access to prevention and
treatment of killer diseases. I urge you to ensure the Global Fund
is able to renew expiring grants and issue a new round of grants in
2006.
We have to find a way to keep our promise to the Fund. If we meet
these issues head on now, we will save money in the long run.
Health threats are putting global security at risk.
Background:
The Fund's needs are higher for next year compared to this year.
That's because previously funded grants are coming up for renewal
and because the Fund is now reviewing a large number of high quality
applications for new funding. Many countries are asking the Fund to
help them improve their health systems so they can better use aid
from abroad.
The Global Fund has requested that the US provide a contribution of
$930 million for 2006. That would be one-third of what the Fund
needs to renew grants that are expiring and issue a new round of
grants. Japan has agreed to triple its contribution, and France has
agreed to double. Other nations are also expected to double their
current contribution.
The US Senate Appropriations Committee has approved $500 million for
the Global Fund. $400 million of this is through the Foreign
Operations Spending Bill, and $100 million is through the Labor,
Health and Human Services Spending Bill.
Some Senators are considering offering an amendment to the Foreign
Operations Spending Bill. If offered, this amendment will be voted
on by the full Senate Monday night or sometime on Tuesday. An
amendment could raise the amount by $100 million or more.
Once the Senate has finished work on the Foreign Operations Spending
Bill, the Bill will be considered together with members of the House
in a Conference Committee. The full House has already approved its
version of the bill, specifying $400 million for the Global Fund.
The House did not approve any money for the Fund via the Labor,
Health and Human Services Spending Bill, so the House amount is $400
million. If the Senate approves a higher amount than the House the
final amount will be decided in Conference Committee.
Why is the Global Fund important and why does it need more money
from the US?
· The Global Fund operates like a foundation. Countries apply
for funding for AIDS, Tb and malaria programs and private groups
(including churches) are involved in the process. Then, these
applications are scrutinized by a panel of experts. There are
multiple checks to make sure funds are properly used, and the Fund
has very low administrative overhead.
· The Fund's resources are saving lives right now, in 127
countries. And, the Fund helps make sure greater resources can be
absorbed and used effectively. 20% of its resources go to human
resources, 13% to physical infrastructure, 6% to monitoring and
evaluation.
Global AIDS Alliance 1225 Connecticut Ave, NW Suite 401 Washington,
D.C., 20036
Tel: 202-296-0260 ext. 211 Fax: 202-296-0261
info@globalaidsalliance.org www.globalaidsalliance.org
Live8 was GREAT but the only thing that will save the lives of millions of people in Africa is YOUR VOICE IN DIRECT ACTIONS LIKE THIS.
I hope that you will PUT YOUR WHITE BAND TO WORK tomorrow for Africa.
Thank you for your concern.
GLOBAL AIDS ALLIANCE
ACTION ALERT - July 15, 2005
Call Senators TODAY to Urge a Higher Contribution to the Global Fund
to Fight AIDS, Tb and Malaria
Senate Considering this Issue July 15-19!
ISSUE: Most of the US contribution to the cost-effective Global Fund
to Fight AIDS, Tb and Malaria is provided through the foreign
operations spending bill. The full Senate will soon vote on this
bill. As currently written, the bill does not contain enough for
the Global Fund. The US should keep its promises to the Fund,
otherwise the it will not be able to renew previous grants or issue
new grants to high-quality health programs that save lives.
There will likely be an attempt to amend the bill on the Senate
floor to increase the contribution. The vote will likely take place
July 18th or 19th. We need this amendment to succeed!
TAKE ACTION:
==> Call your Senators and ask to speak with the staffer who handles
foreign aid appropriations. 202-224-3121. Emphasize you want your
Senator to initiate or support an amendment to the foreign aid bill
that would increase the amount for the Global Fund. Also fax a
letter of concern. You do not have to be an expert. Faxes and calls
really matter!
You will find a handy directory here:
http://takeaction.stopglobalaids.org/directory/index.asp
TALKING POINTS:
· I am calling about the foreign operations spending bill now
being debated on the Senate floor. The US promised to fully support
the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tb and Malaria. So, I urge you to
initiate or support an amendment that increases the US contribution
to the Fund. The amount specified in the bill as written is far
below what the US should provide.
· So far, each dollar from the US has been matched by two
dollars from other nations. Canada, Italy, France and others are
contributing, so the US should as well. Unless the US contribution
is increased, our contribution to the Fund will be much less than
one-third of all contributions for 2006.
· Unless an amendment passes, the Fund will not be able to
help countries improve their healthcare systems or expand access to
prevention and treatment of killer diseases.
· We have to find a way to keep our promise to the Fund.
Health threats are putting global security at risk.
SAMPLE LETTER:
I am deeply concerned about the foreign operations spending bill now
being debated on the Senate floor. The US promised to fully support
the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tb and Malaria. So, I urge you to
initiate or support an amendment that increases the US contribution
to the Fund. The amount specified in the bill as written is far
below what the US should provide.
Other donors to the Fund, such as Canada, Italy, France and others
are doing their fair share, so the US should as well. So far, each
dollar from the US has been matched by two dollars from other
nations. Unless the US contribution is increased, our contribution
to the Fund will be much less than one-third of all contributions
for 2006.
The Fund is doing excellent work in helping Rwanda cope with the
legacy of genocide. It is also saving lives in Russia, India, and
many other places not fully reached by US programs. Unless we fully
support it, the Fund will not be able to help countries improve
their healthcare systems or expand access to prevention and
treatment of killer diseases. I urge you to ensure the Global Fund
is able to renew expiring grants and issue a new round of grants in
2006.
We have to find a way to keep our promise to the Fund. If we meet
these issues head on now, we will save money in the long run.
Health threats are putting global security at risk.
Background:
The Fund's needs are higher for next year compared to this year.
That's because previously funded grants are coming up for renewal
and because the Fund is now reviewing a large number of high quality
applications for new funding. Many countries are asking the Fund to
help them improve their health systems so they can better use aid
from abroad.
The Global Fund has requested that the US provide a contribution of
$930 million for 2006. That would be one-third of what the Fund
needs to renew grants that are expiring and issue a new round of
grants. Japan has agreed to triple its contribution, and France has
agreed to double. Other nations are also expected to double their
current contribution.
The US Senate Appropriations Committee has approved $500 million for
the Global Fund. $400 million of this is through the Foreign
Operations Spending Bill, and $100 million is through the Labor,
Health and Human Services Spending Bill.
Some Senators are considering offering an amendment to the Foreign
Operations Spending Bill. If offered, this amendment will be voted
on by the full Senate Monday night or sometime on Tuesday. An
amendment could raise the amount by $100 million or more.
Once the Senate has finished work on the Foreign Operations Spending
Bill, the Bill will be considered together with members of the House
in a Conference Committee. The full House has already approved its
version of the bill, specifying $400 million for the Global Fund.
The House did not approve any money for the Fund via the Labor,
Health and Human Services Spending Bill, so the House amount is $400
million. If the Senate approves a higher amount than the House the
final amount will be decided in Conference Committee.
Why is the Global Fund important and why does it need more money
from the US?
· The Global Fund operates like a foundation. Countries apply
for funding for AIDS, Tb and malaria programs and private groups
(including churches) are involved in the process. Then, these
applications are scrutinized by a panel of experts. There are
multiple checks to make sure funds are properly used, and the Fund
has very low administrative overhead.
· The Fund's resources are saving lives right now, in 127
countries. And, the Fund helps make sure greater resources can be
absorbed and used effectively. 20% of its resources go to human
resources, 13% to physical infrastructure, 6% to monitoring and
evaluation.
Global AIDS Alliance 1225 Connecticut Ave, NW Suite 401 Washington,
D.C., 20036
Tel: 202-296-0260 ext. 211 Fax: 202-296-0261
info@globalaidsalliance.org www.globalaidsalliance.org
