Emergency Supplemental Still Possible!

Urge Your Members of Congress to SAVE ADAP!

September 9, 2004

In the next few days, Congress will consider an emergency supplemental appropriations bill requested by the Bush Administration. This bill will provide immediate funding for Homeland Security and other programs such as NASA and agriculture. Because it is an election year, many Members of Congress will likely attempt to secure emergency funding for other programs important to their constituents.

This provides an opportunity to urge Congress to add an emergency supplemental appropriation for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) to this bill. ADAPs continue to be in crisis around the country with many states forced to create waiting lists for lifesaving drugs.

While President Bush announced in June a special $20 million program to provide drugs for those on waiting list, this program has not yet been implemented. Meanwhile, the ADAP crisis rolls on.

This year, 25 Senators signed a bipartisan letter in support of an emergency supplemental appropriation of $122 million for ADAP. This means that there is a chance that one of these Senators will try to attach ADAP funding to the emergency supplemental bill.

You can help by taking a few minutes to call your Senators and Representative and urge them to SAVE ADAP.

What you can do:

Call your two U.S. Senators and U.S. Representative in their Washington, DC office as soon as possible. This opportunity will not last long. Ask to speak to the staffperson who handles HIV/AIDS and healthcare issues. Whether you speak to that person or leave a message, tell them:

"I am calling to urge Senator/Representative _______________ to support an emergency supplemental appropriation of no less than $122 million for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program as part of any upcoming emergency funding bill. This program is in crisis nationwide and this funding is needed to make sure people with HIV/AIDS have access to lifesaving treatment."

You can reach your Senators and Representative by calling the Capitol Switchboard toll-free at 1-800-839-5276. You'll need to know who represents you in order to be transferred. If you don't know who your Representative/Senators are, go to www.vote-smart.org.