January 9, 2003

This Week In Washington
1. AIDS Action Applauds Senate Majority Leader Frist
2. Organizations Endorse Early Treatment for HIV Act
3. Congressional Black Caucus Ceremonial Swearing-in
4. Launch of the Louis Stokes Urban Health Policy Fellows Program
5. Congress Passes Temporary Funding Bill

In the News
1. Spending Bills Limited by President’s Budget Projections
2. Women Key to Saving Africa from Crises, Annan Declares
3. Viacom/ Kaiser Family Foundation Launch Media Blitz to Promote HIV Awareness
4. HIV Spikes Don’t Necessarily Signal a Medication’s Ineffectiveness, Study Reports
5. AIDS Foundation of Chicago’s Letter Campaign Calls for More Attention on AIDS

Announcements
1. National Association of People With AIDS Seeks Models for Photo Shoot
2. Conference Series on President Bush’s Faith-Based Initiative
3. Funding for Collaborative HIV-Prevention Research in Minority Communities
4. HIV/AIDS Educational Materials Available Through the Office of Minority Health
5. AIDSinfo Shares Federally-approved HIV/AIDS Information
6. 10th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections

This Week In Washington
1. AIDS Action Applauds Senate Majority Leader Frist
As the 108th Congress convenes this week, AIDS Action would like to congratulate Senator Bill Frist (R-TN) on his election to the position of Senate majority leader. Throughout his tenure in the Senate, Dr. Frist has been a champion for those with and affected by HIV in the United States and throughout the world. His leadership in the fight against HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa through the “U.S. Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, TB, and Malaria Act of 2002” was a significant first step in a much-needed comprehensive response to the global HIV/AIDS crisis from the U.S. government.
Dr. Frist, the only physician currently in the U.S. Senate, is the first medical doctor to be elected to the position of Senate majority leader. He has been a staunch advocate for health care reform, strengthening the Medicare program, and for increased U.S. action in the fight against the HIV/AIDS pandemic. AIDS Action looks forward to continuing its work with Dr. Frist to ensure that the HIV/AIDS epidemic remains a significant issue on the national political agenda.

2. Organizations Endorse Early Treatment for HIV Act
AIDS Action has joined with a group of national, regional, and local AIDS organizations to sign on to an Organizational Endorsement of the Early Treatment for HIV ACT (ETHA), sponsored by the Treatment Access Expansion Project. ETHA, initially introduced in the 106th Congress but which has since stalled in committee, would allow states the option of expanding Medicaid coverage to low-income people living with HIV who would not otherwise qualify for benefits. Under the current system, most HIV-positive individuals are ineligible for Medicaid until they become legally disabled with full-blown AIDS, a point at which it is often too late for them to take full advantage of the life-saving benefits of HIV treatments and therapies. Passage of ETHA would give more people access to early intervention care and treatment, thereby delaying their progression from HIV to AIDS and improving both their health and their quality of life.

AIDS Action encourages its members, and all other AIDS organizations, to support ETHA by signing-on to this important endorsement. For more information or to sign on, please E-mail Ryan Clary at rclary@projectinform.org with the name of the endorsing organization, a contact person and an E-mail address or phone number. The deadline for signing on is close of business on Friday, January 10th, 2003.

3. Launch of the Louis Stokes Urban Health Policy Fellows Program
On Wednesday, January 8, 2002, AIDS Action staff attended a press conference announcing the launch of the Louis Stokes Urban Health Policy Fellowship program. The Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Health Braintrust, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, and Heineken USA are partners in this new endeavor to increase the numbers of health policy professionals within communities of color. Four Congressional caucuses, each of which represents a community of color—African American, Hispanic, Asian Pacific Islander, and Native American—will have the opportunity to select a two-year fellowship candidate at the graduate level. The program will also include undergraduate fellows and interns.

The fellows will be assigned to the offices of the Caucus’s health braintrust and/or health subcommittees in the Ways and Means Committee, the Energy and Commerce Committee, and the Appropriations Committee. HIV/AIDS, a top priority for all four caucuses, will undoubtedly be among the issues they cover. During their fellowships, they will focus on three main areas, 1) eliminating health disparities that exist in multicultural communities; 2) facilitating the collaboration of health organizations and governmental agencies to develop health policy and legislation designed to eliminate health disparities; and 3) helping to shape the health agenda of the CBC and the House of Representatives.

Former Congressman Louis Stokes (D-OH), founder of the Congressional Black Caucus Health Braintrust stated, “I am honored to have this fellowship named in my honor. I am confident these fellows will help begin to tackle the gap in health disparities as they start their work on Capitol Hill.” Delegate Donna Christensen, who spoke at the press conference, is pleased to see the fruits of two years of work coming together in the launch of this initiative. Ten additional members of the CBC spoke at the event, including the Dean of the CBC Representative John Conyers (D-MI). Each member raised important issues, ranging from universal health care, to preventative health care, to health disparities, to the importance of living a healthy life. Representative Mike Honda (D-CA), from the Asian Pacific Islander Caucus raised, the issue of cultural and language barriers, which are found far too often in medical settings within communities of color.

The application deadline for the fellowship is February 15, 2003. For further information and for an application, contact Aranthan S. Jones, II, The Congressional Black Caucus Louis Stokes Urban Health Policy Fellows Program, Office of The Honorable Donna Christian-Christensen, 1510 Longworth HOB, Washington, D.C. 20515, 202-225-1790, or cbchbt@mail.house.gov.

4. Congressional Black Caucus Ceremonial Swearing-in
On Tuesday, January 7, 2003, AIDS Action staff attended the Ceremonial Swearing-in of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) for the 108th Congress. Representative Elijah Cummings (D-MD), the new Chair of the CBC, spoke to the gathering. According to Cummings, some of the important issues that the Caucus will work on in this session include the elimination of health disparities in America, improving limited access to health care, and assuring access to quality health care. He also stated that HIV/AIDS will remain high on the CBC's list of priorities as they begin their work in this Congress.
In her first official act as minority leader, Representative Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) administered the oath to the 39 members of the Caucus. Five of the 39 are in the newly elected freshman class. These new members are Representative Frank Ballance (D-NC), Representative Arthur Davis (D-AL), Representative Denise Majette (D-GA), Representative Kendrick Meek (D- FL), and Representative David Scott (D-GA). Attending the ceremony as a demonstration of their commitment to working together in the 108th Congress were Representative Ciro Rodriguez (D-TX), the newly elected chair of the Hispanic Caucus; and Representative Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), the newly elected chair of the Progressive Caucus.

5. Congress Passes Temporary Funding Bill
On Thursday, January 9, 2003, the U.S. Senate passed another continuing resolution (CR) for the remaining (11) Appropriations bills for Fiscal Year 2003, which began on October 1, 2002. The CR will continue funding the federal government at Fiscal Year 2002 levels, which amounts to approximately $1,135 billion for the entire HIV/AIDS portfolio. However, funding for the bulk of the HIV/AIDS portfolio remains stagnant, in spite of increasing caseloads and medical inflation.

The CR that passed today is merely a stopgap spending measure that will only continue spending through January 31, 2003. The House and Senate are still negotiating an omnibus spending bill in order to complete the federal budget for FY 2003. The final bill is expected to mirror President Bush's FY 2003 budget recommendation for the Labor-HHS Appropriations Bill, which limits overall federal HIV/AIDS spending to $1.143 billion. AIDS Action encourages every reader of this communication to contact their Members of Congress and encourage them to adequately fund the HIV/AIDS portfolio, akin to the recommendations made by the National Organizations Responding to AIDS (NORA).

In the News
1. Spending Bills Limited by President’s Budget Projections
On Monday January 6, 2003, The Washington Post reported that, as lawmakers finalize the still outstanding FY 2003 appropriations bills, Members are faced with the challenge of reducing spending in a number of programs to meet the President’s budget cap. The President is holding the GOP leadership to $750.5 billion on all discretionary spending—of which $365 billion has already been earmarked for Defense and an additional $69.5 billion is set aside for homeland security and foreign aid. Although discretionary spending makes up only an estimated 17% of the overall federal budget, the Bush Administration has opted to begin its reduction of the federal government budget with this category of spending. This choice concerns many lawmakers and analysts, who are pointing out that this measure will result in cuts to many government-funded, education and healthcare programs, including those assisting people living with HIV. To read the article, link to http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A14741-2003Jan5.html.

2. Women Key to Saving Africa from Crises, Annan Declares
In a letter to the editors of The New York Times, Kofi Annan, secretary general of the United Nations, writes in praise of African women and their central role in development strategy, as well as their contributions to better income, nutrition, savings, reinvestment, and social networks for families in Africa. Their ability to contribute to the advancement of the continents is, however, mitigated by not one, but two large-scale crises: HIV and famine. “This is no coincidence,” Annan reports, “AIDS and famine are directly linked.”

AIDS has robbed southern Africa and the Horn of Africa of skilled farmers. Consequently, agricultural development, rural jobs, and the productive capacity to work the land are in jeopardy. Meanwhile, HIV spreads throughout the continent, increasing the costs of health care and disproportionately affecting women, who now make up 58% of all cases in Africa. The spread of HIV and AIDS among women is particularly troubling since it is women who most often care for families during difficult times. During famine, it is the women who find alternative sources of food for their children. It is women who nurse their husbands through the stages of HIV, which often take them away from the work of planting and harvesting crops.

According to Annan these crises will require international and comprehensive aid, He recommends combining food assistance and new approaches to farming with treatment and prevention of HIV; early-warning and analysis systems that monitor both HIV infection rates and famine indicators; and new agricultural techniques, which can be implemented by a depleted workforce. Finally, notes Annan, “It will take a renewed effort to wipe out HIV-related stigma and discrimination.”

Annan concludes with the following compelling statement, “If we want to save Africa from two catastrophes, we would do well to focus on saving Africa’s women.”

To read Annan’s letter, link to http://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/29/opinion/29ANNA.html.

3. Viacom/ Kaiser Family Foundation Launch Media Blitz to Promote HIV Awareness
On Monday, January 6, 2002, Reuters announced that media giant Viacom was preparing to fulfill its end of a multi-year partnership with the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation to launch an HIV public service campaign: KNOW HIV/AIDS. Over the course of the year, Viacom will air a total of 49 spots, valued at more than $20 million. Kaiser assisted Viacom’s internal creative team in producing the ads.

In addition, Viacom will also incorporate HIV/AIDS storylines into episodes of several television programs, including shows like “Becker,” “Girlfriends,” and “One on One,” a Reuters article announced on Monday, January 6, 2003. The article cites the goals of the public awareness campaign as 1) increasing public awareness of HIV/AIDS; and 2) promoting prevention and testing among high-risk groups.

Viacom and Kaiser have also initiated conversations with potential broadcasting partners in other countries, like China, Africa, and Brazil where HIV the AIDS pandemic is hitting hard.

Viacom Inc. owns broadcast networks CBS and UPN, cable networks MTV, BET, and Nickelodeon, and more than 180 Infinity radio stations. To read the Reuters report, link to http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=1999727

4. HIV Spikes Don’t Necessarily Signal a Medication’s Ineffectiveness, Study Reports
A new study, which appeared in a recent issue of the journal AIDS suggests that brief and abrupt increases of viral load in patients taking highly active retroviral therapy (HAART) do not necessarily mean that a medication is not working, Reuters reported on Monday, December 30, 2002. In fact, of those in the study, only 13% experienced persistently high levels of HIV. In the study’s other participants, viral levels dropped to undetectable levels.

The study’s lead researcher Dr. Peter Sklar postulated that these brief spikes might be the result of patients not adhering to their often-complicated medication regimens. Further, Reuters reported, Sklar noted that patients with persistently high levels of the HIV were more likely to have been exposed to a variety of anti-viral treatments and may thus have developed resistance to the drugs. From the study’s finding, Dr. Sklar concludes caution should be exercised in switching medications in response to brief episodes of elevated levels of HIV because they may not have clinical importance.

Other doctors have acknowledged the value of the study. Dr. Diane Havlir, San Francisco General Hospital’s AIDS division chief told Reuters that the study shows from “a practical clinical standpoint that very low viral rebound does not lead to immediate immune collapse.” To read the Reuters article, go to http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=571&ncid=571&e=17&u=/nm/20021230/hl_nm/hiv_blip_dc_1.

5. AIDS Foundation of Chicago’s Letter Campaign Calls for More Attention on AIDS
This week, the AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) will deliver more than 950 individually signed petitions to the White House from Illinois residents concerned with the Bush administration's lack of attention to the AIDS pandemic, a January 8, 2003 press release from the AFC reports.

The petitions, the press release continues, call on the president and Congress to demonstrate leadership in the fight against AIDS both at home and around the globe. The document, available online at http://www.aidschicago.org, also outlines recommendations for lawmakers to increase funding for domestic and international HIV/AIDS prevention, care, housing, and research programs, and to support comprehensive, science-based HIV prevention programs.

"Every minute, another four young people become infected with HIV and every hour more than 300 people die of AIDS-related complications. We cannot let this go on," said Mark Ishaug, AFC executive director. "Our elected officials must display the political courage needed to end the terror that is HIV/AIDS."

The AIDS Foundation of Chicago developed the petition drive as a tool to bring local and national attention to the need for increased leadership on HIV/AIDS issues and to educate newly elected lawmakers on critical AIDS public policy. The National Association of People with AIDS will deliver the petitions to the White House Office of National AIDS Policy on behalf of AFC this week. More than 900 separate petitions will also be delivered to Illinois lawmakers and Governor Rod Blagojevich later this month.

Announcements
1. National Association of People With AIDS Seeks Models for Photo Shoot
The National Association of People With AIDS (NAPWA) is looking for models to pose for photos, which will appear in the organization’s National HIV Testing Day campaign materials. For more information, please contact NAPWA Communication Director Ray Daniels at (202) 898-0414 or by E-mail at Rdaniels@napwa.org.

The National Association of People With AIDS is located at 413 K Street, NW, Washington, DC 20005. Its Web site is located at http://www.napwa.org.

2. Conference Series on President Bush’s Faith-Based Initiative
The White House, together with the Departments of Health & Human Services, Housing & Urban Development, Labor, Education, and Justice, has scheduled a series of conferences to help faith-based and community organizations learn more about President Bush's initiative. These free, daylong conferences will equip participants with information about the federal programs that are suited to their needs, the federal funding process, and the legal issues that may apply to recipients of federal funds. They will help your organization decide whether and how partnering with the Federal government could strengthen your organization's mission. The next two conferences will take place Tuesday, February 18, 2002 in Diego, CA and Friday, March 14, 2002 in Chicago, IL. To learn more and register online, link to http://www.whitehouse.gov/government/fbci/conferences.html.

3. Funding for Collaborative HIV-Prevention Research in Minority Communities
Applications are being accepted until January 15, 2003, from scientists/researchers who would benefit from participation in The Collaborative HIV-Prevention Research in Minority Communities Program. Offered by the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Center for AIDS Prevention Studies and sponsored by the National Institutes of Mental Health (NIMH), the program is designed to assist scientists/researchers in improving their programs of research and obtaining additional funding for their work.

To increase the numbers of ethnic minority group members among principal investigators at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and other equivalent agencies, investigators from the UCSF Center for AIDS Prevention Studies collaborate with scientists to develop an ethnic, minority-focused HIV prevention research project.

Participants will: (a) receive mentoring and $25,000 to conduct their preliminary research; (b) spend six weeks in San Francisco for three consecutive summers; (c) receive a monthly stipend for living expenses and roundtrip airfare to San Francisco each summer. Application deadline: January 15, 2003

Please visit the Program Web site for complete information and an application: http://www.caps.ucsf.edu/capsweb/projects/minorityindex.html.

4. HIV/AIDS Educational Materials Available Through the Office of Minority Health
In acknowledgement of World AIDS Day, in memory of those who have passed away, and in recognition of those human beings living with HIV/AIDS and those dedicated health care professionals working with HIV/AIDS, the Office of Minority Health/DHHS is making available an HIV/AIDS educational packet, which can be downloaded easily.
The packet’s materials are updated twice daily and include the following sections: What is World AIDS Day?; Tool Kit; Calendar; Educational and Outreach Resources; Links; and Special Assistance. The packet is available online at http://www.omhrc.gov/omh/aids/2k2/0881_2C3.htm.
For further information, contact OMHRC by phone 1-800-444-6472, or E-mail, hivinfo@omhrc.gov.

5. AIDSinfo Shares Federally-approved HIV/AIDS Information
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases is pleased to announce the launch of AIDSinfo. On December 2, 2002, the HIV/AIDS Clinical Trials Information Service (ACTIS) and its sister service, the HIV/AIDS Treatment Information Service (ATIS), merged into AIDSinfo. The AIDSinfo project includes all the services that were available from ACTIS and ATIS, as well as quick and easy access to wide-ranging federal resources on HIV/AIDS clinical research, HIV treatment and prevention, and medical practice guidelines for health care providers and consumers.

The AIDSinfo Web site is designed for full accessibility, ensuring easy search and navigation. The Web site presents federally approved information on HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention guidelines, a comprehensive database of both government and industry-supported HIV/AIDS clinical trials, and information about approved and experimental HIV/AIDS drugs, and vaccines. The site's Education and Resource Center is a virtual one-stop shop offering links and other downloadable resources specially designed for patients, researchers, health care providers, and the public. The AIDSinfo Help Line at 800-448-0440 has English- and Spanish-speaking Health Information Specialists who offer confidential responses to questions and assistance with navigating the Web site. The Help Line is available Monday through Friday, noon to 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time. To view AIDSinfo, link to http://www.aidsinfo.nih.gov/.

6. 10th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections
From February 10 to February 14, 2003, the 10th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections will be held at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston, MA. The Conference is a scientifically focused meeting that brings together the world’s leading researchers, working to understand, prevent, and treat HIV/AIDS and its complications. The goal of the Retrovirus Conference is to provide a forum for translating laboratory and clinical research into medical applications. Subjects to be highlighted include virology, immunology, vaccines, pathogenesis, disease mechanisms in humans and animal models, primary/acute infection, host-virus interactions, antiretroviral therapy (pre-clinical, clinical, complications, immune-based therapies, treatment strategies and drug resistance), neuropathogenesis and neurologic complications, opportunistic infections, hepatitis virus co-infections, epidemiology and infection control, pediatrics/maternal-fetal studies, HIV infection in women/women’s health, diagnostics, microbicides, and clinical pharmacology. For more information, please visit http://www.retroconference.org/2003/about.htm.

The AIDS Action Weekly Update
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