Call Your Congressional Leaders NOW…… Even if You Feel Awkward About it

You might feel awkward calling into a Senator’s Office, but really, it can’t be any worse than what this guy is going through. If you’re hesitant to call your elected officials, you’re not alone – but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it. Significant cuts to HIV/AIDS programs are at stake, and if Congress doesn’t hear from you, then they won’t think it matters! So go on, pick up that phone even if it’s from the 80’s. It doesn’t matter what it looks like, it’s how you use it– so work it out!

BACKGROUND INFO:

• Congress has not yet passed a final budget to fund programs for the current fiscal year.
• Short-term Fiscal Year 2011 funding for government programs runs out at midnight on April 8^th, and domestic programs that support health care and other services for people with HIV/AIDS are at risk for cuts.
• Some in Congress also want to use “policy riders,” or fine print, to limit the use of federal funding for important HIV-related programs  and defund health care reform implementation.
• Congressional leadership is negotiating a final FY 11 funding bill now and may vote on it sometime over the next few days.

ACTION NEEDED:

Please call the following Congressional Leadership and ask them to support full funding for domestic HIV/AIDS programs with no policy riders. 

• Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV),202-224-3542
• House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH),202-225-0600
• Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY),202-224-3135

MESSAGE:

I am calling to ask the Senator/Speaker tosupportfull funding for domestic HIV/AIDS programsand no policy riders in the final FY11 funding bill!

• Amidst rising infection rates and shrinking state and local budgets, full federal funding for HIV/AIDS programs is more vital than ever.  Over 1.1 million people currently are living with HIV and there are an estimated 56,000 new infections annually.
• Early and reliable access to HIV care and treatment help people with HIVlive healthy and productive lives and is cost effective.  Investing in HIV prevention today translates into greater health and less spending in the future.

Talk about why HIV/AIDS programs are important to you