Urgent Action Alert re AIDS, TB and Malaria Funding!!!!

[Guest guest]

Please adapt for your own use as needed -- !!

GLOBAL AIDS ALLIANCE

December 22, 2006

ACTION ALERT!!!

Write & Call Congress NOW to Save $1 Billion

in Global AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Funding!!

ISSUE: Congress had been poised to provide higher funding for global AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria programs in 2007 compared to 2006. HOWEVER, Congress failed to give final approval to these increases before adjourning for the year. Instead, it decided to simply keep funding in 2007 at the same level as in 2006, using continuing resolutions.

That means that the increases we fought for all year long to save lives around the globe -- and which we thought we had nearly won -- are now lost.

This pulls the rug out from under the Malaria Initiative, which was just launched. It stalls AIDS treatment and prevention, even as the world is working to provide universal access by 2010. It undermines the response to Extremely Drug-resistant Tuberculosis (XDR-TB), which is now spreading globally. It stalls important programs to help orphaned and vulnerable children.

TAKE ACTION: If we make enough noise, we CAN reverse this loss! Congress will revisit the matter in early January and consider increases for particular programs. We need EVERYONE to contact their members of Congress to say, “Restore $1 billion in Funding for Global AIDS, TB and Malaria programs as well as programs for Orphaned and Vulnerable Children!!”

You do not have to be an expert! Call your members of Congress -- especially your Senators – at 202-224-3121. Ask to be connected to your senator’s office and then ask to speak with the legislative aide who handles appropriations matters. Also send an email or fax a letter. You will find email addresses and fax numbers at www.senate.gov

We need you to act today….And again the first week of January!! Sen. Durbin (D-IL) and Sen. Brownback (R-KS) will be sending a letter after January 1st to Senate leaders urging they restore the funding -- and with your help we can get LOTS of Senators to be co-signers!

WHAT TO SAY: I am very concerned about the impact of the Continuing Resolution on funding for global AIDS, TB and Malaria programs, especially the Global Fund. The AIDS epidemic is spreading, with 4.3 million new infections this past year. Extremely drug-resistant TB is a real emergency, threatening many countries. We must not lose momentum in this fight! Can I count on you to prioritize a $1 billion increase for global AIDS, TB and malaria programs, including $700 million for the Global Fund? An increase could be negotiated as soon as early January, as a part of a new Continuing Resolution, so can you please contact Congressional leadership about this right away?

[if calling a Senate office on or after January 1st, also say: Will the Senator be willing to sign onto the Durbin/Brownback letter that urges Senate leaders to restore the increase for global AIDS programs? This letter will be issued in early January.]

SAMPLE LETTER:

Dear Member of Congress:

I am alarmed at the proposed Continuing Resolution, which will keep funding for global AIDS and other health programs at 2006 levels. This will mean a massive loss in momentum in the fight against killer diseases. Keeping funding at 2006 levels means AIDS treatment programs and prevention programs, as well as care for orphans and vulnerable children, will be stalled. New malaria programs will be devastated. Programs to fight Extremely Drug-resistant Tuberculosis will also be stalled, even as this very dangerous infection spreads.

For instance, in the Senate, the funding for global HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria programs was set at $4.36 billion for Fiscal Year 2007. But, by simply continuing the Fiscal Year 2006 funding, Congress will provide only $3.43 billion. That would be a loss of $930 million!

That is why I urge you to prioritize a $1 billion increase for global AIDS, TB and malaria programs in the new continuing resolution the Congress will consider. We especially need to preserve $700 million for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, because the US contribution is matched by other donors on a two-to-one basis.

Since this matter will be negotiated in early January, please contact Congressional leadership about this as soon as possible.

[For letters to Senators, please add: Senators Durbin and Brownback are sending a letter to Senate leaders urging they restore the funding increase for global AIDS programs. I urge you to co-sign this letter.]

Please let me know where you stand on this critical issue.

Sincerely,

YOUR NAME, ADDRESS & PHONE HERE

THANKS for taking action! OK, now that you have called and sent your letter, read on for more details (warning: this can get a little overwhelming, so just skip this part if you want!)

MORE BACKGROUND:

The Congress adjourned without approving the spending bills needed to keep the government going, including US support for global health programs. Progress in approving spending bills was especially slow in the Senate, which passed just two of its 12 appropriations bills.

To keep the government going, the Congress passed what is known as a continuing resolution (a "CR"), which continues 2006 funding levels into the 2007 fiscal year until February. Early next year, they will vote on a longer “CR” which will extend throughout Fiscal year 2007. Increases that had been approved for some programs, like Global AIDS, TB and Malaria programs, are wiped out by the agreement to implement the continuing resolution.

For instance, the Senate had approved a substantial increase for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria – but that has been wiped out by the Continuing Resolution. Need more info on how many lives the Fund could help save if it got the increase? Go here for the details:

http://www.globalaidsalliance.org/CR_backgrounder.cfm

Overall, in the Senate, the funding for global HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria programs was set at $4.36 billion for Fiscal Year 2007. But, by simply continuing the Fiscal Year 2006 funding, Congress will provide only $3.43 billion. That's a loss of $930 million!

A Continuing Resolution (CR) is usually a temporary, stop-gap measure. When it resumes its session in January, Congress could seek to pass the individual spending bills for fiscal year 2007 and send them to the President.

However, the incoming leadership has decided not to do this. Instead, they will craft a new CR, which they are calling a "joint funding resolution," that will carry forward the 2006 funding levels into 2007. Some increases will be allowed, based on an assessment of needs conducted at the departmental and agency level, but only a small amount is available for these increases.

This resolution must be formally approved by February 15, but the question of what increases will actually be allowed will be resolved much earlier, via high-level negotiations in early January.

We need significantly higher levels of funding for core health and development programs that bring more children into school and that give the poor access to basic health services and clean water and sanitation. The flat-lining of funding affects many of these important development programs, as well, and we are very concerned about the impact of a long term continuing resolution on addressing these basic needs.

This action alert focuses on the emergency need for AIDS, TB and malaria programs because this appeal has the best chance of success in Congress. That’s why we need you to act today….And again the first week of January!!

=========================================== BrydenGlobal AIDS Alliance, Communications Director1413 K Street NW, 4th floorWashington, DC 20005202-789-0432 ext 211mobile: 202-549-3664fax: 202-789-0715dbryden@...