July 21, 2006

This Week in Washington
1. FY 2007 Labor, Health, and Human Services, Education and Related Programs Appropriations Bill Passes Senate
2. Bush Speaks about HIV and AIDS at NAACP Conference
3. Women and HIV/AIDS Coalition (WHAC) Holds First Full Member Meeting

Announcements
1. SIECUS Releases State Fact Profiles
2. Mark R Dybul Nominated as US AIDS Ambassador

This Week in Washington
1. FY 2007 Labor, Health, and Human Services, Education and Related Programs Appropriations Bill Passes Senate
Yesterday, July 20, 2006, the full Senate Appropriations Committee marked up and approved the Senate version of the fiscal year (FY) 2007 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Programs (Labor-HHS) Appropriations Bill. AIDS Action Government Affairs Associate, Anna Ford was in attendance. This was the last opportunity for Senators to make changes before the bill goes to the Senate floor for a final vote. The bill did not change from the subcommittee approved version on Tuesday. (The complete report is not yet online. We will review it in its entirety as soon as possible and give you further details.) The HIV and AIDS major programs included in the Labor-HHS bill are:

1. National Institutes of Health (not exclusive AIDS portfolio)
$28.5 Billion: increase of $220 million over FY 2006
2. Domestic HIV/AIDS Programs at Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
$675.9 million: increase of $28.2 million over FY 2006
3. Ryan White CARE Act program
$2.139 billion: increase of $78 million over FY 2006
(including $55 million for ADAP)
3a. AIDS Education and Training Centers
$35.2 million: increase of $500,000 over FY 2006
4. Abstinence only has been flat funded at $178 million
$0 increase over FY 2006

The Labor-HHS bill is the vehicle through which Congress provides critical funding to address the domestic HIV epidemic. It funds HIV care and treatment, research, and prevention programs. The amount of this funding will be decided in large part during Senate negotiations this week. AIDS Action will continue to monitor this legislation as it moves through the Congress. We will keep you informed of its progress and when necessary we will encourage you to action so that Members of both the House and Senate are informed of the importance of increased funding for domestic HIV programs.

Now the bill will go to the Senate floor and will be conferenced with the House version once it passes the House floor. It has been rumored that House and Senate floor action may not occur until after the November elections in a lame duck session. During the mark up Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA), the chair of the Labor, HHS subcommittee remarked that it was difficult and frustrating to appropriate for the Labor-HHS bill when there was so little money to appropriate with. He went on to say, “[This bill] marks the disintegration of the federal government’s role in health and education, which should be America’s greatest assets.”

AIDS Action will continue to support and advocate for the FY 2007 community request for funding. The community’s request is: http://www.aidsaction.org/legislation/pdf/federal_funding_comparisons_040406.pdf. Although there are increases in the HIV portfolio, they are not equal to the community request or the President’s request.

2. Bush Speaks about HIV and AIDS at NAACP Conference
On Thursday, July 20, 2006 President George Bush addressed the National Association for the Advancement for Colored People (NAACP) convention here in Washington. He accepted their invitation to speak for the first time during his presidency. He spoke on many civil rights issues and ended his speech with a discussion of HIV and AIDS. His remarks addressing HIV and AIDS are as follows:

"Finally, you and I seek an America that commits its wealth and expertise to helping those who suffer from terrible disease. We believe that every person in the world bears the image of our Maker, and is an individual of matchless value. And when we see the scourge of HIV/AIDS ravaging communities at home and abroad, we must not avert our eyes.

Today more than a million of our fellow Americans live with HIV, and more than half of all AIDS cases arise in the African American community. This disease is spreading fastest among African American women. And one of the reasons the disease is spreading so quickly is many don't realize they have the virus. And so we're going to lead a nationwide effort -- and I want to work with the NAACP on this effort -- to deliver rapid HIV/AIDS -- HIV tests to millions of our fellow citizens. (Applause). Congress needs to reform and reauthorize the Ryan White Act, and provide funding to states, so we can end the waiting lists for AIDS medications in this country. (Applause).

To whom much is given, much is required. This nation is a blessed nation, and when we look at HIV/AIDS on the continent of Africa, we haven't turned away. We believe it's our nation's responsibility to help those who suffer from this pandemic.

We're leading the world when it comes to providing medications and help. Today more than 40 million people around the world are living with HIV/AIDS; 26 million of those live in Sub Sahara Africa, including 2 million children under the age of 15. We're calling people together. We pledged $15 billion to provide medicine and help. We launched the emergency plan for AIDS relief. Before this AIDS emergency plan was passed, only 50,000 in Sub Sahara Africa were getting medicine. Today, that number has grown to more than 560,000 people, and more are getting help every day. By working together we can turn the tide of this struggle against HIV/AIDS and bring new hope to millions of people."

His full speech is at:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/07/20060720.html

For the past few years the NAACP has been working closely with the Black AIDS Institute to address HIV in the African American community. For the second year in a row, on Saturday, July 15, 2006 the NAACP health department hosted an informative forum on HIV and AIDS in the African American community. AIDS Action's Director of Government Affairs, Donna Crews attended this event. Rupert F. Richardson, Chair of the NAACP National Health Committee explained that each of the state NAACP chapters’ health departments must address HIV issues. The disease is impacting the African American community at alarming rates and it can no longer be ignored.
The panelists included Pernessa Seale, CEO of the Balm in Gilead, Phil Wilson, Executive Director of the Black AIDS Institute, Dee Bailey, representing the National Black Commission on AIDS, Dr. Kim Smith an HIV physician from Rush Hospital in Chicago, and Del. Donna Christensen (D-VI). Each panelist addressed the need for more focus on African Americans and HIV in our community. Ms. Seale explained that the black church has played and continues to play an important role in addressing HIV from the pulpit. Mr. Wilson explained that African Americans must openly discuss HIV and stop ignoring the problem. Dr. Smith explained the importance of early testing for HIV since there is now treatment for HIV which can extend the life of individuals. She also highlighted the problem of too few African American doctors in the HIV field. Del. Christensen described the status of the reauthorization of the Ryan White CARE Act (RWCA). She explained that the RWCA portion of the Minority AIDS Initiative will be codified into law through this reauthorization.

The convention exhibit hall included a health fair with HIV testing. Mr. Bruce Gordon, President of the NAACP and Mr. Julian Bond, Board Chair were the first to get an HIV test at the exhibit hall.

3. Women and HIV/AIDS Coalition (WHAC) Holds First Full Member Meeting
On July 19, 2006 the Women and HIV/AIDS Coalition (WHAC) held its first full coalition meeting in Washington DC. WHAC, a coalition formed in March and facilitated by amFAR, the Foundation for AIDS Research, seeks to engage advocates on a variety of issues concerning women and HIV/AIDS.

The meeting began with introductory comments from WHAC’s co-chairs, Judy Auerbach of amFAR, and Diana Bruce of AIDS Alliance for Children, Youth and Families. They explained WHAC’s vision to create a coordinated effort that raises awareness and builds advocacy efforts around the HIV epidemic among women in the U.S and around the globe. WHAC hopes to combine domestic and international focuses to improve the lives of women with HIV/AIDS and their access to prevention, care, and treatment.

There are currently 65 member organizations of WHAC with a smaller steering committee. The coalition’s guiding principles and action areas were released to all members at the meeting. A presentation and discussion of the coalition’s top legislative priorities followed. These were: The Responsible Education about Life Act (REAL), the Microbicide Development Act, Ryan White Care Act Reauthorization, and the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) Reauthorization (with particular attention to the 1/3 requirement for abstinence only programs).

The REAL Act provides funding to states for medically accurate comprehensive sex education in schools. Diana Bruce explained that there is current work to build co-sponsorship on the bill and to continue the dialogue on comprehensive sex education particularly for girls and women. The coalition believes that a shift from “abstinence only” to comprehensive sex education needs to occur both domestically and abroad. Abstinence until marriage programs often leave women more vulnerable to HIV/AIDS and other STDs. Ms. Bruce also expressed concern that the message is especially not appropriate for African American women in this country, when only 50% of them marry.

Biyndia Patel, of The Global Campaign for Microbicides, shared current information about microbicides with the group. Microbicides can be a woman controlled prevention option in the form of a gel or cream intended to prevent the spread of HIV. There are currently five microbicide products in trials for efficacy with 10 to 12 products in preliminary safety trials. The first Phase 3 trial just completed enrollment of 6,000 women. If the microbicides in the Phase 3 clinical trial proves effective, a product could become available by 2010. This research is being conducted primarily with government and non-profit dollars, with very little private pharmaceutical money.

The Microbicide Development Act (S. 550, HR 3854) authorizes increased funding for, and requires better coordination among, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and the National Institutes for Health (NIH) for the development of microbicides. It would also establish a branch within the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) dedicated solely to the development of microbicides.

The Act is cosponsored in the Senate by Senators Barack Obama (D-IL) and Olympia Snowe (R-ME), and in the House by Representatives Christopher Shays (R-CT) and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL). A congressional staff briefing held on July 18th titled, Microbicide Research, A Promising Prevention Strategy For HIV/AIDS: Can It Save Women’s Lives?, was over capacity. Microbicide advocates considered the packed room a huge success and great educational opportunity. Advocates say that as the act gains momentum it is crucial to build co-sponsorship.

The reauthorization of the Ryan White CARE Act is another legislative priority for WHAC, with a particular focus on Title IV. There was a brief discussion on the status of this bipartisan, bi cameral bill, with the anticipation that it will pass in September. Title IV, dedicated to women and children, is the only title in the bill expected to be flat funded.

Emily Byram of amFAR led the PEPFAR reauthorization discussion. She stated that three main themes seem to be developing as reauthorization negotiations get underway. The first is that reauthorization during the current administration is very likely, since it seems that the administration would like for this to be a legacy project. Advocates need to ask how funding levels should change if PEPFAR becomes an ongoing bill and no longer and emergency plan. Secondly, the large shortage of health care workers to carry out PEPFAR will be a major issue for reauthorization. Finally, prevention and gender issues seem likely to play a major role in reauthorization. WHAC intends to focus their efforts to paying particular attention to eliminating the requirement that 1/3 of prevention dollars going towards abstinence-only programs.

On a similar note, WHAC also supports the HIV Prevention for Youth Act (S. 3656), sponsored by Senator Feinstein and the House version of the bill, the Protection Against Transmission of HIV for Women and Youth Act of 2006 (PATHWAY Act) (H.R. 5674) sponsored by Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) These bills would require all PEPFAR funded HIV prevention programs to address violence against women and other factors fueling the spread of HIV infections among women and girls while striking the 1/3 provision.

The discussion leaders next addressed the role of women and HIV/AIDS at the International AIDS conference taking place in Toronto in August. After a lively conversation and with help from a UNAIDS representative present at the meeting, meeting participants settled on three main messages: 1. More funding for programs that work for women. 2. Better laws and enforcement for women and girls, and 3. More seats at the table where decisions are made for women. A packet of all women focused seminars being led by WHAC members at the IAC was distributed.

At the conclusion of the meeting Judy Auerbach reiterated the objective of the coalition. It is the hope of the coalition that WHAC serve as forum for all members to share information about the needs of women and HIV/AIDS and work together to lobby collaboratively for legislative priorities. A WHAC website is currently being produced that includes links to each member organization’s website and a mechanism for all member groups to post messages and share reports. Along with the completion of its website, the next steps for WHAC include plans to organize a WHAC Lobby day in the near future and upcoming coalition work surrounding World AIDS Day in December. The next WHAC full coalition meeting will take place in November.

AIDS Action will soon be joining WHAC. There is no screening process or cost to join. If your organization is interested in becoming a WHAC member please email WHAC@ddbissues.com.

Announcements
1. SIECUS Releases State Fact Profiles
On July 19, 2006 SIECUS (Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States) released its 2005 SIECUS State Profiles titled: A Portrait of Sexuality Education and Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Programs in the United States. The SIECUS State Profiles represents a complete portrait of abstinence-only-until-marriage programs and their intersection with sexuality education programs in the United States. This publication includes individual profiles of every state and the District of Columbia that are intended to serve as a guide and major resource for advocates, policymakers, and other interested parties. This third edition includes information from federal Fiscal Year 2005, which began on October 1, 2004 and ended on September 30, 2005.

To view the full publication of this useful resource visit www.siecus.org

2. Mark R Dybul Nominated as US AIDS Ambassador
Only July 17, 2006 President Bush announced his intention to nominate Mark R. Dybul, to be Coordinator of the United States Government Activities to Combat HIV/AIDS Globally with the rank of Ambassador. He sent the official nomination to the Senate on July 18, 2006. Dr. Dybul currently serves as Acting United States Global AIDS Coordinator and Chief Medical Officer at the Department of State. Prior to this, he served as Deputy United States Global AIDS Coordinator and Chief Medical Officer at the Department of State. Earlier in his career, Dr. Dybul served as Assistant Director for Medical Affairs at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institute of Health. Dr. Dybul received his bachelor's degree and his MD from Georgetown University.

The AIDS Action Weekly Update
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