Organizations Urge Increase in
Funding for Global HIV/AIDS Response

September 10, 2002

The Honorable Jim Kolbe
Chairman, Appropriations Committee
US House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Mr. Chairman:

On behalf of the organizations listed below that support the highest level of funding possible from the U.S. government to address the global HIV/AIDS pandemic, we are writing to urge you to vote YES on the Pelosi amendment to increase funding for the global HIV/AIDS response. Congresswoman Pelosi's amendment would increase funding for the global effort by $400 million - an additional $200 million for the global HIV/AIDS programs at the U.S. Agency for International Development and an additional $200 million for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

The tragedy of HIV/AIDS can be seen in countries all over the world. With over 22 million deaths since the beginning of the epidemic, families have been destroyed across the world. In 2001 alone, 5 million people became newly infected, and 800,000 of them were children under the age of 15. It is expected that the number of children orphaned by AIDS will reach 44 million by 2010. While sub-Saharan Africa has been hardest hit by the pandemic, many other regions of the world, including Russia, Eastern Europe, the Caribbean and Asia, are on the verge of catastrophic epidemics. The U.S. can and must take action today to reduce the damaging impact HIV/AIDS is having on the world.

It is critical that the US take a strong stand and provide the highest level of funding possible for global efforts. We encourage you to vote YES for the Pelosi amendment during full Appropriations Committee consideration of the FY 2003 Foreign Operations Appropriations bill and express your support for programs that are improving the lives of millions of men, women and children around the world. If you would like additional information about the global HIV/AIDS pandemic or have questions about programs that are currently working in the field, please contact Natasha Bilimoria at the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (202-296-9165) or Michele Sumilas at the Global Health Council (202-833-5900).

Sincerely,

ACT UP/Cleveland
ACT UP/East Bay, Oakland, CA
ACT UP/New York
ACT UP Philadelphia
ActionAid USA
Advocates for Youth
African Services Committee
AIDS Action
AIDS Alliance for Children, Youth and Families
AIDS Empowerment & Treatment International
AIDS Foundation of Chicago
AIDS Project Los Angeles
AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition
American Academy of Pediatrics
American Foundation for AIDS Research
American Public Health Association
Centre for Development and Population Activities
Church World Service
Consumer Research Action and Information Centre
Critical Path AIDS Project
Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation
Episcopal Church, USA
Foundation for Integrative AIDS Research
Gay Men's Health Crisis
Global AIDS Action Network
Global AIDS Alliance
Global Campaign for Microbicides
Global Health Council
Health GAP (Global Access Project)
HIV Medicine Association
Human Rights Campaign
Infectious Diseases Society of America
International AIDS Empowerment
International AIDS Vaccine Initiative
International Center for Research on Women
Kansas University School of Medicine's AMSA Global Health committee
Kenya AIDS Intervention/Prevention Project Group
Lutheran World Relief
Management Sciences for Health
Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns
Maryland Student Global AIDS Campaign
MFJ International, LLC
Michigan People Living with AIDS Task Force
Middle East Children's Alliance
National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors
National Association of People with AIDS
National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA
Open Letter Online
Pangaea Global AIDS Foundation
Physicians for Human Rights
Plan/Childreach
Presbyterian Church (USA)
Project HOPE
Project Inform
RESULTS
San Francisco AIDS Candlelight Vigil
San Francisco AIDS Foundation
Student Global AIDS Campaign
Survive AIDS
The Balm In Gilead Inc
The National Latina/o Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Organization
The United Methodist Church, General Board of Church and Society
Title II Community AIDS National Network
TransAfrica Forum
Treatment Action Group
Union of American Hebrew Congregations
United Trauma Relief
Washington Office on Africa