Update on Senate "Dear Colleague" Letter:
In April, four U.S. Senators sent out a very powerful bipartisan "Dear
Colleague" letter in support of providing badly needed fiscal relief to the AIDS
Drug Assistance Program (ADAP). The letter is co-authored by Senators Jeff
Bingaman (D-NM), Richard Durbin (D-IL), Gordon Smith (R-OR), and Olympia Snowe
(R-ME).
Not only does this letter ask for a $217 million increase for ADAP for the
next fiscal year, but it also supports an immediate emergency supplemental
increase of $122 million to help deal with the current ADAP crisis.
As of June 8th, 21 additional Senators have signed this letter (see list
below).
Sign-ons are still being collected, as this letter could be used whenever an
opportunity exists for an emergency supplemental appropriation. The more
signatures on this letter (and the more bipartisan the list), the better chance
that the Senate will consider emergency funding for ADAP.
Please take a minute to call your two U.S. Senators about this letter. If
they have already signed on, thank them for their leadership. If they haven't
signed, urge them to add their name. Be sure to talk about how ADAP affects you
or people you care about. If there is an ADAP crisis in your state, let them
know that you expect them to fight for adequate federal funding to help ensure
that everyone has access to lifesaving treatment.
You can reach your U.S. Senators through the same toll-free number above.
Current Senate "SAVE ADAP" letter sign-ons (as of June 8th):
Authors:
Jeff Bingaman (D-NM)
Richard Durbin (D-IL)
Gordon Smith
(R-OR)
Olympia Snowe (R-ME)
Signers:
Daniel Akaka (D-HI)
Barbara Boxer (D-CA)
Maria Cantwell (D-WA)
Jon
Corzine (D-NJ)
Tom Daschle (D-SD)
Mark Dayton (D-MN)
James Jeffords
(I-VT)
Tim Johnson (D-SD)
Ted Kennedy (D-MA)
John Kerry (D-MA)
Frank
Lautenberg (D-NJ)
Carl Levin (D-MI)
Joseph Lieberman (D-CT)
Blanche
Lincoln (D-AR)
Barbara Mikulski (D-MD)
Patty Murray (D-WA)
Mark Pryor
(D-AR)
Paul Sarbanes (D-MD)
Charles Schumer (D-NY)
Debbie Stabenow
(D-MI)
Ron Wyden (D-OR)
Thank you for taking the time to make your voice heard on this important
issue!