February 2, 2004

FY 05 Budget All But Forgets HIV Positive Americans

Last year, on January 31, President Bush spoke to the nation about his plan to request in his budget an unprecedented 15 billion dollars for global AIDS relief—a bold initiative that earned President Bush accolades from a broad range of health advocates and professionals, including AIDS Action. During his speech, however, the president made another, equally important statement: He said, “It’s important for our fellow citizens never to think that one initiative, or a major initiative, in Africa doesn't mean we're going to forget the 900,000 people living in America today who carry the HIV virus. Of course we'll never do that.”

Yet, if presidents’ priorities can be determined by their budgets, it seems evident that the 900,000 HIV positive Americans of whom President Bush spoke have, at the very least, been shortchanged—if not entirely forgotten.

The requests that President Bush made in his fiscal year (FY) 2005 budget, released today, included modest increases for two HIV/AIDS programs: $35 million for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) and $3 million for the HIV/AIDS in Minority Communities Fund; however, all other HIV/AIDS programs received decreased or level funding. And, at a time of rising rates of HIV infection and AIDS, flat funding will not keep the U.S. response apace of the epidemic’s spread; instead, it will pitch the response backwards. Furthermore, inflation and higher drug prices have weakened the dollar’s power, placing more strain on HIV/AIDS funding.

“Americans living with HIV want and need more from the president,” AIDS Action’s Executive Director Marsha Martin, DSW stated. “In efforts against domestic HIV, they need President Bush to demonstrate the same kind of consistent leadership that he has shown in efforts against the global epidemic. They also want him to ask for increases in funding for all HIV/AIDS and related health programs.”

Dr. Martin continued, “I realize that the president faces competing priorities, and that’s probably why it’s taken him longer than expected to recognize that, indeed, we must not forget the 900,000 Americans living with HIV. That’s why the increases have to be significant, not merely symbolic of his compassion.”

AIDS Action Foundation strives to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic by working for public policies that promote prevention against new infections, provide care for people already living with HIV/AIDS, and support the search for a cure. AIDS Action is the national voice of all people living with HIV, representing community based organizations across the country.