[Ip-health] Letter from 8 Senators to President Obama about PEPFAR funding

[Sarah Rimmington]

This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
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I am attaching this letter forwarded by David Bryden of the Infectious
Diseases Society of America because I think it is relevant to those of
us interested in the US' continued ability to provide ARVs under PEPFAR.

See attached letter from 8 US Senators

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December 18, 2009

President Barack Obama

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President:

As you prepare your budget proposal for FY 2011, we write to encourage
you to meet the authorized funding levels of the =93Tom Lantos and Henry
J. Hyde United States Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis,
and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008.=94

*_The success of our HIV/AIDS program is potentially compromised by a
proposed slow-down in the pace of funding._* We cannot afford to lose
momentum in our fight against these diseases. We must maintain the pace
of funding to meet the expanded mandate of the Lantos-Hyde Act,
including the strengthening of health systems, workforce development,
and the expansion of services for orphaned and vulnerable children.

The President=92s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) has demonstrated
America=92s unprecedented leadership in combating HIV/AIDS, building the
capacity of local institutions to treat HIV/AIDS as well as contributing
to overall health system strengthening. U.S. contributions to the Global
Fund have also leveraged considerable donations from other international
donors. Additionally, PEPFAR plays an important role in responding to
gender-based violence and has begun refining its approach to better meet
the complex health needs of women in developing countries.

Your leadership in expanding the United States commitment to other
health priorities such as neglected diseases, and maternal and child
health under the Global Health Initiative is welcome. But we must be
mindful that these important programs do not come at the expense of
commitments made under the Lantos-Hyde Act.

America has, with bipartisan support from Congress made tangible gains
in saving lives in many impoverished countries and demonstrated to the
world our compassion. Our leadership must continue, as such we urge you
to support funding for global AIDS programs, including U.S. bilateral
programs and the Global Fund, consistent with the Lantos-Hyde Act.

Sincerely,

SENATOR BARBARA BOXER

SENATOR JOHNNY ISAKSON

SENATOR ROBERT P. CASEY, JR.

SENATOR FRANK R. LAUTENBERG

SENATOR BENJAMIN L. CARDIN

SENATOR RICHARD J. DURBIN

SENATOR KIRSTEN E. GILLIBRAND

SENATOR EDWARD E. KAUFMAN

cc.: Peter R. Orszag, Director, Office of Management and Budget

Dr. Eric Goosby, U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator, U.S. Department of State

=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D

David Bryden

Senior Program Policy Officer

IDSA/HIVMA Center for Global Health Policy

Phone: 703-740-4956

Mobile: 202-549-3664

email: dbryden@idsociety.org <mailto:dbryden@idsociety.org>

www.idsaglobalhealth.org <http://www.idsaglobalhealth.org>

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Sarah Rimmington
Attorney
Essential Action, Access to Medicines Project
Washington, DC
Tel: +1 (202) 387-8030
Cell: +1 (202) 422-2687
www.essentialaction.org/access/

Follow me on twitter at http://twitter.com/sarahrimmington

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[ Boxer-Isakson letter on FY 11.pdf of type application/octet-stream delete=
d ]