During the August Recess
Ask Your Elected Officials to Save ADAP
You Still Have Time!!!

President Bush recently announced that he is providing $20 million to purchase drugs for people currently on ADAP waiting lists. While this amount is far short of the funding needed for ADAPs nationwide, it is an acknowledgement of the treatment access crisis. Whether you made a phone call, signed a letter, sent an email, or met with a legislator, your efforts have resulted in the President making ADAP part of one of his speeches and an issue that he knows he has to address. Let your legislators know how important it is to properly and speedily allocate this $20 million band-aid. Thank them for any support they have given and ask for more. We need to fully fund all AIDS Drug Assistance Programs! Fully funding the program is the only ethically and morally sound way to address this problem.

From July 26-September 6, Congress will be on its "August recess". This is a time when U.S. House Representatives and Senators leave Washington, DC and are back in their districts and states. Many use this time to meet with their constituents, through district legislative visits, town hall meetings, and/or campaign events if they are running for reelection.

This is an excellent opportunity to talk with your Representative/Senators about the need for adequate funding for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) and other HIV/AIDS programs. Face-to-face discussions are one of the most effective ways of influencing our elected officials, as they demonstrate how an issue like AIDS affects their district and state.

Now is the time to keep up the momentum and let Congress know that we expect leadership on ADAP and other HIV/AIDS issues. It is a good time to let them know that people living in their district are appalled at the fact that there are residents of the United States that are dying needlessly from lack of treatment for AIDS and HIV! Here are some ways you can get involved during the August recess and DEMAND THAT ADAP BE FULLY FUNDED BECAUSE LIVES DEPEND ON IT!!!

1. Organize a meeting in the district office of your U.S. Representative and/or Senators. This is much easier than it might seem and can be a very positive and productive experience. There is still the time to schedule a meeting in August

2. Call your Representative/Senator during the August recess. You can find contact information for your Representative and Senators at www.congress.org. If you aren't sure who represents you, go to www.vote-smart.org and enter your zip code.

If you schedule a meeting or make a phone call, please let SAVE ADAP know, by emailing:

Daniel Kubert: [email protected]
Rob Hadley: [email protected]
Mabrey Whigham: [email protected]
Steve DeCorte: [email protected]
Jerry Spillman: [email protected]
Ryan Clary at [email protected]

We can provide background information on the ADAP crisis, and have fact sheets for many state's ADAP. State fact sheets can be found at www.atac-usa.org/adap.html.

SAVE ADAP is available to help you with opportunities to talk to your Members of Congress. If you have any questions or need more information, email [email protected] and one of us will be in touch.