Sound the Alarm.org - July 7, 2009

**clean needles work**housing saves lives**fight global aids**

Every 9 1/2 minutes, someone in the US is infected with HIV.

45 more are infected around the world.

This is unacceptable, and we can prevent it.

Last month, President Obama presented his budget to Congress. While there were many areas that showed a real, positive change from the previous administration, there are a handful of areas where the budget did not go far enough. We need to tell Congress to fix it.

The US economy may be in recession, but HIV is not.

CHAMP and our allies are working to improve the federal budget on three levels:

*We want an end to the ban on syringe exchange funding (the ban is in the budget!)

*We want full funding for AIDS housing programs

*We want the US to pay its fair share to fight global AIDS

Congress needs to hear from us NOW. Without a clear outcry from the people they are accountable to - all of us - representatives challenged by a tough political enviornment will not necessarily do the right thing.

Call the leaders of the House and Senate today and tell them HIV is not in recession.

If you are from any of the following states, it is especially important that you call today, because your Senator sits on the powerful Appropriations Committee, which decides all funding for US government programs:

California [www.sound-the-alarm.org/california.html], Hawaii [www.sound-the-alarm.org/hawaii.html], Illinois [www.sound-the-alarm.org/illinois.html], Iowa [www.sound-the-alarm.org/iowa.html], Maine [www.sound-the-alarm.org/maine.html], Maryland [www.sound-the-alarm.org/maryland.html], New Jersey [www.sound-the-alarm.org/new_jersey.html], Ohio [www.sound-the-alarm.org/ohio.html], Pennsylvania [www.sound-the-alarm.org/pennsylvania.html], Rhode Island [www.sound-the-alarm.org/rhode_island.html], Vermont [www.sound-the-alarm.org/Vermont.html], Washington [www.sound-the-alarm.org/washington.html], or Wisconsin [www.sound-the-alarm.org/wisconsin.html] click on your state name to find out detailed instructions.

From everywhere else in the country, click here [www.sound-the-alarm.org/call.html] or read below for detailed call-in instructions.

Please call Senate Majority Leader Reid and Speaker Pelosi.

As the leaders of both chambers of Congress, they can have a significant impact on the outcome of the budget, and are accountable to the entire nation.

Speaker Pelosi: 202-225-0100

Majority Leader Reid: 202-224-3542

When you call, say:

"My name is _____________ and I'm calling to request that Speaker Pelosi [Majority Leader Reid] work with the Appropriations Committee to improve President Obama's budget and secure sufficient funding for AIDS programs in the US and around the world. One person is infected with HIV every 9 and a half minutes in the US, and 45 more are infected around the world. It's time to act, and we need Speaker Pelosi's [Majority Leader Reid's] support for an end to the federal ban on funding syringe exchange, $2.7 billion for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria, at least a $1 billion increase in funding for PEPFAR, and $360 million for AIDS housing programs. HIV is not in recession, and these programs need Speaker Pelosi's [Majority Leader Reid's] support."

President Obama committed to fully funding evidence-based interventions, like AIDS housing and needle exchange. And he committed to increasing funding for the US Global AIDS Plan, known as PEPFAR, by at least $1 billion per year, plus support for multilateral programs like the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria.

Call today! Then forward this email to your friends and ask them to call. For more information on each of the issues, click here [www.sound-the-alarm.org]

Once you've called, send us an email at soundthealarm.july7@gmail.com and let us know how it went.

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PS- While we are focused on the 2010 budget, another important battle is happening in Washington around health care reform. Advocates are working hard to make sure that any final reform bill expands health care for low-income people with HIV/AIDS. Go to www.taepusa.org for more information and action alerts.

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Copyright © 2009 - Reproduced courtesy of copyright owner - listed on source line.

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Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 2009. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.

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