Dear Eileen: You are getting this message because the US
Senate is making key decisions THIS WEEK on global AIDS as they
prepare the budget of the federal government for fiscal year 2003.
==> Please join in our mass email action NOW by just hitting your
reply button and SENDING the message -- the letter below will be
automatically emailed to your Senators on your behalf!! The Senate
action will start Tuesday - so please reply NOW!
===
Background and additional actions:
This one of the most critical moments in our battle to get the funds
needed to address the AIDS crisis! Congressional Appropriations
Committees are making key decisions on amounts of US funds to go
towards the fight against Global AIDS.
FACT: Without concerted grassroots pressure, the funds to stop
global AIDS could remain at the same levels, be reduced, or be
provided through taking funds away from some other important
program. As they prepare their 2003 Budget bills, Senators need to
hear from their constituents that they support the increase in
funding that's needed for effective prevention, care and treatment,
as well as support for orphans.
The Senate is acting THIS WEEK, the House will act later. So, let's
make sure our Senators know we are watching and we want the US to do
its fair share in the global effort.
==> Please join in our mass email action now by REPLYING to this
message and SENDING it -- the letter below will be automatically
emailed to your Senators on your behalf.
==> do you live in an area represented by a member of the HOUSE
appropriations committee (see link to list below)? If so, please
drop us a line - we have a special task for you!
PLUS, PARTICIPATE WITH ACTIVISTS ACROSS THE USA IN CALLING THEIR
SENATORS (ESPECIALLY IF THEY ARE MEMBERS OF THE VERY POWERFUL
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE - SEE LIST BELOW)
LET'S MAKE THE PHONES RING OFF THE HOOK! CALL: THE CONGRESSIONAL
SWITCHBOARD AT 202-224-3121
IT'S EASY AND WILL ONLY TAKE A MINUTE - YOU *DON'T* HAVE TO BE AN
EXPERT
Not sure who your Senators are? Just click on our Directory to find
out:
http://takeaction.stopglobalaids.org/directory/index.asp
For a full list of those critically important Appropriations
Committee members click below. Many have local offices noted on
their websites -- or contact us and we can help direct you to the
local office.
Senate:
http://takeaction.stopglobalaids.org/directory/index.asp?
step=11&comm_code=SAPP
House:
http://takeaction.stopglobalaids.org/directory/index.asp?
step=11&comm_code=HAPP
WHAT TO SAY WHEN YOU PHONE IN YOUR CONCERN: Ask for your Senators'
office and ask for the aide handling appropriations. Tell that
person the following or leave a message with these points:
Points to make:
-- the US is not doing enough to show real leadership and can well
afford to do much more to help stop global AIDS
-- you want full support for providing $2.5 billion in FY 2003
resources to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria and to
bilateral AIDS programs. The Budget for FY 2003 is being marked up
in committee this week and you want to make sure they provide this
full amount, including at least $1 billion for the Global Fund to
Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria.
-- These funds should be in addition to and not at the expense of
other programs of international assistance to impoverished countries
-- If the Senator is a member of the Approriations Committee you
urgently request they see that these funds are appropriated this
week. If your Senators are not members of the Appropriations
Committee you urgently request that they contact the leadership of
the Appropriations Committee NOW to ensure these funds are included
in the FY 2003 budget.
Let's review the facts:
The latest UNAIDS report projects that, without expanded prevention
and treatment efforts, 68 million people will die because of AIDS in
the 45 most affected countries between 2000 and 2020. That's more
than five times the 13 million deaths of the previous two decades of
the epidemic in those countries. In a number of southern African
countries, where prevalence rates are highest, up to one-half of new
mothers could die of AIDS. But, the latest report also makes clear
that programs for prevention and care are having tremendous success
in Uganda, Zambia, and Cambodia and that what's URGENTLY needed are
the resources to expand those effective programs to other countries.
----
This letter will be sent to YOUR SENATORS when you hit the reply
button:
Dear Senator:
I am writing to express my concern about the markup this week of the
FY 2003 budgets for Foreign Operations, Defense, and Labor HHS.
I congratulate you for passing last week, by unanimous consent, the
Kerry-Frist authorization bill on global AIDS. Now that must be
turned into a reality. Specifically, I urge you to help ensure that
appropriations are made which provide a total of $2.5 billion for
global AIDS programs for Fiscal Year 2003, including at least $1.2
billion for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria. These
funds can be effectively used NOW to help stop this dangerous,
deadly epidemic. I urge Congress to provide these funds IN ADDITION
to other spending to assist impoverished countries.
Please do your utmost to ensure these approprations are included in
the markup this week or via amendments on the Senate floor.
Global AIDS is a vital security and humanitarian concern that
demands strong US leadership. If the international community does
not respond adequately, the number of children left orphaned by AIDS
will reach 44 million by 2010 -- that's about the same number of
children in public schools in the United States east of the
Mississippi. Countries cannot cope with the consequences of AIDS and
so are vulnerable to instability, according to a recent CIA analysis.
The US can and must do much more to help stop global AIDS. Further
delay is morally unacceptable. Please keep me informed of your
deliberations on this urgent matter.
==========
Update:
Unfortunately, our bid to get $600 million in emergency funds for
effective AIDS programs, led by Senators Durbin (D-IL) and Specter
(R-PA), failed last month in a narrow Senate vote, 46 to 49. Then,
even though tremendous bipartisan momentum was building, President
Bush persuaded a key member of the Senate, Bill Frist (R-TN), to
withdraw his proposal for $500 million in immediate, emergency
funding at the last minute. President Bush wanted to promote,
instead, his own more limited and misleading proposal for additional
AIDS program funding, which would not begin until 2004.
By clicking below, you can see how your Senators voted on this - let
them know how you feel about the stance they took!
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/vote1072/vote_00141.html
However, it's remarkable we came as close as we did, given all the
demands being made on the budget. Plus, in the end the Senate did
agree by a large majority to provide a total of $200 million in
emergency funds. Since the House and President Bush have basically
agreed with that, we can expect it to become law. This is a tribute
to the energy and hardwork of people across the US who contacted
their legislators - again, THANKS!
Now, in the US our sights shift to getting sufficient funding for
effective global AIDS programs for the fiscal year 2003 budget. So,
hit your REPLY button to send your email and CALL YOUR SENATORS
TODAY.
==========
Encourage others to call for an end to the global AIDS crisis
by joining the Stop Global AIDS Action Network at
http://takeaction.stopglobalaids.org/join.asp
And, be sure to visit our Partner Groups at
http://www.stopglobalaids.com/partners/index.html
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Thanks. I'll go send my emai now.
Don't forget to email! Takes 2 mintues, guys. 
