[Pharm-policy] URGENT: Calls needed NOW! Amendment for FY 01 $ for Global AIDS and Health Fund

[Paul Davis]

Senator Feingold, D-Wisconin, this morning (Monday, 9 July) introduced an
amendment to the supplemental appropriations bill that would move $593
million from the Osprey Helicopter to the Global Fund.

Calls are needed NOW.

.Senate floor debate tomorrow (Tuesday)
.Vote Wednesday (probably)

Targets are listed at the end of this message.

202.224.3121: Congressional Switchboard (will connect you to your senators,
even if you don't know their names. Ask for the person who deals with "funds
to fight the global AIDS crisis" (you could get an AIDS/health,
international affairs, or appropriations/budget person).

Tell them it is urgent to support the Feingold Amendment to the
Adminstration's supplemental budget request for $593 million. Tell them you
would support much higher levels now and in the future. (groups are asking
for $1-7 billion for the global fund for FY 02).

Funds released through a supplemental budget request puts real money on the
table now. Current budget authorization fights are more about messages and
symbolic stances. Current appropriation negotiations are for NEXT year's
budget (FY 2002). 

The Bush Admin's $18 billion supplemental budget request being voted on by
the Senate this week is almost entirely for military spending.

The Feingold money is 'budget neutral,' fully offset by a smallish
adjustment to the Navy's $40 billion exploding helicopter program. The $593
comes from the Osprey procurement fund. Enough money is left to keep the
Osprey production line open. The amendment reassigns some of the money for
acquiring new Osprey craft to the Global AIDS and Health Fund.

New money for the global fund would be a huge boost to get it funded at
meaningful levels.

Currently, the Bush Administration's paltry contribution to the Global Fund
derailed a tremendous amount of momentum, serving to lower the contributions
of many donors while positioning the President as a leader. The President's
$200 million is entirely reassigned money from existing accounts to be
disbursed in 2002.

If we can get more serious money on the table in the Senate, it will serve
to change the nature and tone of the discussion during the G8 Summit in
Genoa towards a meaningful response to the global AIDS catastrophe. $593 for
FY01 can shift debate away from spurious arguments about prevention versus
treatment, or whether the global fund should be used to purchase watches.

TARGETS:

This is moving quickly and has not been vetted with the Democratic
leadership yet. To make this a reality, calls will need to go to a few
strategically placed senators, then to as many as possible individuals, on
the committees who will be looked to, then finally to a few Republicans who
could help guard against Ds that would support the Osprey program.
 
1. Senators whose vote will be looked to for guidance
   Daschle 
   Kennedy MA
   Frist
   Bayh, IN
   Leahy VT
   Chaffee, RI
   Helms, NC
   Kerry, MA

2. Democratic Appropriators
Robert Byrd, WV
Daniel Inouye, HI
Frist Hollings, SC
Patrick Leahy, VT
Tom Harkin, IA
Barbara Mikulski, MD
Harry Reid, NV
Herb Kohl, WI
Patty Murray, WA
Byron Dorgan, NB
Dianne Feinstein
Dick Durbin, IL
Tim Johnson, SD
Mary Landrew, LA

3. Dems on Armed Services Committee:
Carl Levin, MI
Edward Kennedy, MA
Joe Lieberman, CO
Max Cleland, GA
Mary Landrew, LA
Jack Reed, RI
Daniel Akaka, HI
Bill Nelson, FL
Ben Nelson NB
Jean Carnahan, MO
Mark Dayton, Minnesota

4. The handful of moderate Repubs
    Olympia Snow, MA
    Lincoln Chaffee, RI
    Bob Smith, NH
    Arlen Specter, PA


--

Paul Davis
pdavis@critpath.org
Health GAP Coalition
ACT UP Philadelphia

+1.215.474.6886 direct tel.
+1.215.474.4793 fax
+1.215.731.1844 ACT UP