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June 20, 2008
NOW OR NEVER!
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It's fourth and goal for the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). For $50 billion to fight AIDS in the developing world. For millions upon millions of people living with HIV.
Earlier this year the House of Representatives passed the Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde United States Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008, an unprecedented historic $50 billion aid package that aims to get 3 million people in poor countries on AIDS meds and prevent some 12 million new infections in the next five years. The Lantos/Hyde Act is an essential scaffolding upon which to build a sustainable structure for fighting global AIDS.
There are enough votes in the Senate to pass the legislation, but not the political will. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell are letting the objections of seven conservative senators stand in the way of PEPFAR passage (see "You Better Work" below). And presidential candidates Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain aren't putting enough pressure on Reid and McConnell to get the job done. And time is running out—if PEPFAR is not reauthorized by June 7, the start of the next Group of Eight nations meeting in Japan, President Bush won't have the leverage to insist that other nations also contribute billions to fighting AIDS...
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YOU BETTER WORK
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Sen. Coburn, MD. A doctor should know better. |
It appears as if the all-hands-on-deck mobilization of AIDS activists around the reauthorization of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) is having an effect on the lethargic Senate.
On Wednesday, in response to activist pressure, Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) posted a statement of support for the PEPFAR bill,in which he urged Senate leadership to bring the bill to a vote and signed on as a cosponsor. And, according to the ONE campaign, Sen. John McCain (D-AZ) also verbally pledged on Thursday to cosponsor. As Katie Smith of ACT UP Philadelphia put it, “Now that the de facto leaders of both parties are cosponsors, it gives us all the more leverage to get this bill passed.”
Over the last couple of weeks, global AIDS activists from groups such as Health GAP, Global AIDS Alliance, AIDS Foundation of Chicago and many others have been using backchannels and Senate office visits to brandish the threat of a major multicity protest on June 26 (See “Now or Never!” above) if Senate leadership fails to schedule a vote on the PEPFAR legislation--known as the Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde United States Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008--before July 7. That date is the beginning of the next Group of Eight nations meeting in Japan. Passing PEPFAR would give President Bush the credibility to insist that Japan and Europe also make multibillion dollar contributions to fighting AIDS globally...
Read the rest: "YOU BETTER WORK"
PRISON BREAK
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Prisoners deserve prevention |
The State Senate passed legislation (S.8508/A.8849) yesterday that requires New York correctional facilities to provide people in prison with information about the prevention of HIV, and how to obtain HIV-testing and counseling services upon release.
Sponsored by Senator Velmanette Montgomery (D-Brooklyn) and Assemblywoman Crystal Peoples (D-Buffalo), the legislation has already passed the State Assembly, so its fate now rests with Governor David Paterson. One Albany insider said the Governor is likely to sign the bill. "The Governor has long supported effective HIV prevention and education efforts, including the need for special efforts in those communities most affected by the epidemic. This bill makes sense," the source said...
JUDITH VERDINO
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Judith Verdino, a dedicated and respected veteran of New York City's AIDS community, died last Friday from complications from breast cancer.
Verdino worked at Public Health Solutions (formerly the Medical and Health Research Association of New York City) for 14 years. As the organization's vice president for special initiatives and H.I.V. programs, Verdino played an integral role in determining how millions in Ryan White, New York City and Centers for Disease Control funds were distributed.
"Judi always cared about making sure that the process worked for people," said Community Resource Exchange's Barbara Turk, who performed a commitment ceremony between Verdino and her partner, Imani Romney-Rosa in 2007. "She had worked at [the LGBT nonprofit] Hetrick-Martin and that informed her understanding of challenges that both people living with HIV and nonprofits face."
Public Health Solution's President and CEO Ellen Rautenberg said, "Judy was passionate about developing networks of care. She could thread the needle between government, nonprofits and people living with HIV. She used her sense of humor and astuteness to do that, and people respected her passion and energy. And it was never about Judy. You can't always say that. She put the epidemic and people living with HIV first."
Verdino is survived by her daughter, Genna Verdino-Ellis, her brother and sister, Christopher and Joanne Verdino, her nieces Codi and Kasey Ng, and her wife, Imani Romney-Rosa.
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USE YOUR DISCRETION
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Rivera (far left) fires up the crowd as Palma (far right) looks on. |
"We're committed to this issue…we're not going to give up the fight!"
Those were welcome words from Bronx City Council Member Annabel Palma to dozens of AIDS and harm reduction advocates that gathered on the steps of City Hall on Monday afternoon. Members and supporters of the Injection Drug Users Health Alliance rallied for half an hour to remind City Council Members of the lifesaving HIV prevention and harm reduction services that they provide and thank the Council for its past support.
IDUHA is a $3.3 million discretionary initiative, and the recent scandal over Council Member items has thrown discretionary funding into uncertainty. There is no guarantee that discretionary programs will get renewed and none are expected to see enhancements...
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