....you need to read this and TAKE ACTION!
Decisions are being made RIGHT NOW about funding levels for FY 2006 budget for Global AIDS programs - most especially for the Global Fund (http://www.theglobalfund.org)
The Global Fund is the MOST EFFECTIVE international agency currently funding the fight against Global AIDS and extreme poverty in the world yet it remains WOEFULLY underfunded by developed nations who have gone back on their pledges of financial support.
The ONE Campaign support the FULL FUNDING of the Global Fund. If you wear a ONE white band, this is exactly the kind of action that you can take to show your support of the Global AIDS struggle.
It's NOT ENOUGH to sign the petition and wear the band - ultimately each ONE of us must become educated activists. This is what Bono tries to tell us each night he's up on stage.
I hope you will join us in this action.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
PLEASE NOTE THE DEADLINE FOR YOUR SENATORS TO SIGN THE GLOBAL FUND
LETTER IS FAST APPROACHING!!!
THE LETTER WILL CLOSE NEXT TUESDAY, SO THAT MEANS WE REALLY NEED
CALLS TO ENSURE YOUR SENATORS GET ON BOARD. YOU CAN USE THE INFO
BELOW TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE ON THIS -- AND TELL ALL YOUR FRIENDS AND
COLLEAGUES TO CALL TOO!
WE NEED ALL SENATORS, BUT WE ESPECIALLY NEED THE FOLLLOWING:
Alexander, Chafee, Coleman, Collins, DeWine, Hagel, Hatch, Lugar,
Smith, Snowe, Specter, and Sununu .
ACTION ALERT
Call your Senator and urge them to sign-on to bipartisan letter
(below) in support of $3.7 billion for global HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis
and malaria programs in FY2006 appropriations, including $800
million for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria.
In Brief: In a bipartisan effort to save lives, Senators Santorum (R-
PA) and Durbin (D-IL) offered an amendment in mid-March to increase
the minimum U.S. contribution to the Global Fund to $800 million
within the Senate budget resolution for 2006. This amendment passed,
but this funding is not guaranteed. We must continue to voice our
support for this and urge our Senators to sign-on to this important
statement to the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Foreign Operations,
Mitch McConnell and Ranking Member Patrick Leahy urging $3.7 billion
for global HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria programs in FY2006
appropriations, including $800 million for the Global Fund to Fight
AIDS, TB and Malaria.
The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria is the largest funder
of AIDS, TB and malaria programs around the world. Combined, these
diseases kill more than 6 million people every year. The Global Fund
has programs in 128 countries worldwide.
The Global Fund needs $800 million from the U.S. just to renew
existing grants in order to keep people on life-saving medications
and keep effective programs running. (The Global Fund needs a total
of $1.5 billion to fund new rounds of projects.)
This action needs to happen urgently! This letter may be our best
tool for funding the Global Fund in 2006. The closing date on this
letter is May 24, so that it can be delivered before the
Congressional Memorial Day recess.
For the phone/fax number of your two Senate offices go to
www.senate.gov or call the United States Capitol switchboard at
(202) 224-3121. A switchboard operator will connect you directly
with the Senate office you request.
What you can say when you call your Senator:
The Key Message (use your own words if possible): Ask to speak to
the aide who handles foreign policy.
"Hi, my name is ____________ and I am a constituent from
_______________."
"I am calling to urge Senator __________ to sign-on to a letter
being circulated by Senators Santorum and Durbin to Chairman of the
Subcommittee on Foreign Operations, Mitch McConnell and Ranking
Member Patrick Leahy urging $3.7 billion for global HIV/AIDS,
tuberculosis and malaria programs in FY2006 appropriations,
including $800 million for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and
Malaria."
"$800 million is the minimum amount needed to keep current effective
Global Fund programs running and to ensure that patients continue to
get life-saving medications and treatment."
"Can I send you a copy of the Dear Colleague and the sign on letter?
To sign-on to the letter you can contact George Bernier with Senator
Santorum at 224-6324 or Ann Hwang with Senator Durbin at 224-8342."
"The closing date on this letter is May 24, so that it can be
delivered before the Congressional Memorial Day recess. When is a
good time to follow up?"
For maximum impact follow up with a letter!!!
Draft a letter using the above talking points and fax it to your
Senator. This is the most powerful way to be heard.
Handwritten, faxed letters are best as they are personal, and will
not be subject to the security delays of regular mail.
For a copy of the Dear Colleague (pdf) and the sign-on letter (pdf)
from Santorum and Durbin please contact Kolleen Bouchane at RESULTS,
(202) 783-7100 x107 or kbouchane@results.org.
LETTER YOUR SENATORS CAN SIGN ON TO:
A separate letter with the same content will be sent to Ranking
Member Leahy, and Chairman Specter and Ranking Member Harkin of the
Labor-HHS-Education Subcommittee
May __, 2005
The Honorable Mitch McConnell
Chairman
Subcommittee on Foreign Operations
Appropriations Committee
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Chairman McConnell:
We are writing to request that a total of $3.7 billion be provided
for global HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and malaria programs in FY2006
appropriations, including $800 million for the Global Fund to Fight
AIDS, TB and Malaria.
The AIDS crisis demands our unwavering commitment. This is the worst
epidemic of our times. Over 40 million people are now living with
HIV/AIDS. This year, five million more people will become infected,
while three million people will die. AIDS has destroyed families and
crippled the economies of several nations, and this crisis has the
potential to destabilize entire societies and regions. Malaria and
tuberculosis are also killers of pandemic proportions, responsible
for three million deaths each year.
U.S. leadership in the fight against AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria
is paying off. Our bilateral programs have made impressive strides
in scaling up prevention, care, and treatment programs. The Global
Fund, now in its third year, is providing $3 billion to fight
HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria in 130 countries. Earlier this
year, the World Health Organization, the United Nations Joint
Programme on HIV/AIDS, the Office of the U.S. Global AIDS
Coordinator, and the Global Fund jointly announced that thanks to
their collective efforts, 700,000 people in the developing world
were being treated for HIV/AIDS at the end of 2004. This number
continues to increase rapidly.
We believe that the United States must continue its leadership in
the global fight against AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. We
therefore support fully funding the President's request for bilateral
programs, while increasing the U.S. contribution to the Global Fund
to $800 million. This level of funding will make sure that the
United States matches, on a one-to-two basis, the contributions of
other donors. It will cover the U.S. share of renewals of existing
grants, helping to ensure that the Fund need not cut off life-saving
treatments in proven programs. And this funding for the Global Fund
will allow us to extend our assistance to more than 100 nations not
included as focus countries in the President's Emergency Plan.
We urge you to provide a total of $3.7 billion for global HIV/AIDS,
tuberculosis and malaria programs in FY2006 appropriations,
including $800 million for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS,
Tuberculosis, and Malaria. Thank you for considering our request.
Decisions are being made RIGHT NOW about funding levels for FY 2006 budget for Global AIDS programs - most especially for the Global Fund (http://www.theglobalfund.org)
The Global Fund is the MOST EFFECTIVE international agency currently funding the fight against Global AIDS and extreme poverty in the world yet it remains WOEFULLY underfunded by developed nations who have gone back on their pledges of financial support.
The ONE Campaign support the FULL FUNDING of the Global Fund. If you wear a ONE white band, this is exactly the kind of action that you can take to show your support of the Global AIDS struggle.
It's NOT ENOUGH to sign the petition and wear the band - ultimately each ONE of us must become educated activists. This is what Bono tries to tell us each night he's up on stage.
I hope you will join us in this action.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
PLEASE NOTE THE DEADLINE FOR YOUR SENATORS TO SIGN THE GLOBAL FUND
LETTER IS FAST APPROACHING!!!
THE LETTER WILL CLOSE NEXT TUESDAY, SO THAT MEANS WE REALLY NEED
CALLS TO ENSURE YOUR SENATORS GET ON BOARD. YOU CAN USE THE INFO
BELOW TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE ON THIS -- AND TELL ALL YOUR FRIENDS AND
COLLEAGUES TO CALL TOO!
WE NEED ALL SENATORS, BUT WE ESPECIALLY NEED THE FOLLLOWING:
Alexander, Chafee, Coleman, Collins, DeWine, Hagel, Hatch, Lugar,
Smith, Snowe, Specter, and Sununu .
ACTION ALERT
Call your Senator and urge them to sign-on to bipartisan letter
(below) in support of $3.7 billion for global HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis
and malaria programs in FY2006 appropriations, including $800
million for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria.
In Brief: In a bipartisan effort to save lives, Senators Santorum (R-
PA) and Durbin (D-IL) offered an amendment in mid-March to increase
the minimum U.S. contribution to the Global Fund to $800 million
within the Senate budget resolution for 2006. This amendment passed,
but this funding is not guaranteed. We must continue to voice our
support for this and urge our Senators to sign-on to this important
statement to the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Foreign Operations,
Mitch McConnell and Ranking Member Patrick Leahy urging $3.7 billion
for global HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria programs in FY2006
appropriations, including $800 million for the Global Fund to Fight
AIDS, TB and Malaria.
The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria is the largest funder
of AIDS, TB and malaria programs around the world. Combined, these
diseases kill more than 6 million people every year. The Global Fund
has programs in 128 countries worldwide.
The Global Fund needs $800 million from the U.S. just to renew
existing grants in order to keep people on life-saving medications
and keep effective programs running. (The Global Fund needs a total
of $1.5 billion to fund new rounds of projects.)
This action needs to happen urgently! This letter may be our best
tool for funding the Global Fund in 2006. The closing date on this
letter is May 24, so that it can be delivered before the
Congressional Memorial Day recess.
For the phone/fax number of your two Senate offices go to
www.senate.gov or call the United States Capitol switchboard at
(202) 224-3121. A switchboard operator will connect you directly
with the Senate office you request.
What you can say when you call your Senator:
The Key Message (use your own words if possible): Ask to speak to
the aide who handles foreign policy.
"Hi, my name is ____________ and I am a constituent from
_______________."
"I am calling to urge Senator __________ to sign-on to a letter
being circulated by Senators Santorum and Durbin to Chairman of the
Subcommittee on Foreign Operations, Mitch McConnell and Ranking
Member Patrick Leahy urging $3.7 billion for global HIV/AIDS,
tuberculosis and malaria programs in FY2006 appropriations,
including $800 million for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and
Malaria."
"$800 million is the minimum amount needed to keep current effective
Global Fund programs running and to ensure that patients continue to
get life-saving medications and treatment."
"Can I send you a copy of the Dear Colleague and the sign on letter?
To sign-on to the letter you can contact George Bernier with Senator
Santorum at 224-6324 or Ann Hwang with Senator Durbin at 224-8342."
"The closing date on this letter is May 24, so that it can be
delivered before the Congressional Memorial Day recess. When is a
good time to follow up?"
For maximum impact follow up with a letter!!!
Draft a letter using the above talking points and fax it to your
Senator. This is the most powerful way to be heard.
Handwritten, faxed letters are best as they are personal, and will
not be subject to the security delays of regular mail.
For a copy of the Dear Colleague (pdf) and the sign-on letter (pdf)
from Santorum and Durbin please contact Kolleen Bouchane at RESULTS,
(202) 783-7100 x107 or kbouchane@results.org.
LETTER YOUR SENATORS CAN SIGN ON TO:
A separate letter with the same content will be sent to Ranking
Member Leahy, and Chairman Specter and Ranking Member Harkin of the
Labor-HHS-Education Subcommittee
May __, 2005
The Honorable Mitch McConnell
Chairman
Subcommittee on Foreign Operations
Appropriations Committee
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Chairman McConnell:
We are writing to request that a total of $3.7 billion be provided
for global HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and malaria programs in FY2006
appropriations, including $800 million for the Global Fund to Fight
AIDS, TB and Malaria.
The AIDS crisis demands our unwavering commitment. This is the worst
epidemic of our times. Over 40 million people are now living with
HIV/AIDS. This year, five million more people will become infected,
while three million people will die. AIDS has destroyed families and
crippled the economies of several nations, and this crisis has the
potential to destabilize entire societies and regions. Malaria and
tuberculosis are also killers of pandemic proportions, responsible
for three million deaths each year.
U.S. leadership in the fight against AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria
is paying off. Our bilateral programs have made impressive strides
in scaling up prevention, care, and treatment programs. The Global
Fund, now in its third year, is providing $3 billion to fight
HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria in 130 countries. Earlier this
year, the World Health Organization, the United Nations Joint
Programme on HIV/AIDS, the Office of the U.S. Global AIDS
Coordinator, and the Global Fund jointly announced that thanks to
their collective efforts, 700,000 people in the developing world
were being treated for HIV/AIDS at the end of 2004. This number
continues to increase rapidly.
We believe that the United States must continue its leadership in
the global fight against AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. We
therefore support fully funding the President's request for bilateral
programs, while increasing the U.S. contribution to the Global Fund
to $800 million. This level of funding will make sure that the
United States matches, on a one-to-two basis, the contributions of
other donors. It will cover the U.S. share of renewals of existing
grants, helping to ensure that the Fund need not cut off life-saving
treatments in proven programs. And this funding for the Global Fund
will allow us to extend our assistance to more than 100 nations not
included as focus countries in the President's Emergency Plan.
We urge you to provide a total of $3.7 billion for global HIV/AIDS,
tuberculosis and malaria programs in FY2006 appropriations,
including $800 million for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS,
Tuberculosis, and Malaria. Thank you for considering our request.