May 9, 2008
Vol. VII, Number 16

This Week in Washington

1. PEPFAR Reauthorization Update

2. HRSA Housing Policy – Information Request

Announcements

1. HIV Vaccine Awareness Day is May 18^th

2. National Asian and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is May 19^th

This Week in Washington

1. PEPFAR Reauthorization Update

The Tom Lantos/Henry Hyde U.S. Global HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Leadership Act of 2008, HR 5501 and S 2731, is still awaiting Senate action. The Senate Foreign Relations passed the bill in March. The House passed it’s version of the bill on April 2, 2008. The full Senate is expected to take up the measure in June after the Memorial Day recess. AIDS Action is urging the Senate consider and pass the Senate PEPFAR bill as soon as possible. Advocates are working hard to secure additional improvements to the bill and at least 60 votes to overcome an expected filibuster. Currently Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) has placed a hold on the bill.

This week, several organizations newly voiced their support for the bill’s passage. At a briefing on Wednesday, May 7^th focused on the millions of children who have lost one or both parents to AIDS, AIDS orphans advocates including Global Action for Children and Francois-Xavier Bagnoud (FXB), pressed for passage of PEPFAR reauthorization legislation.

2. HRSA Housing Policy – Information Request

On March 27^th, 2008 The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) put into effect a Housing Policy which imposes a 24 month lifetime cap on the use of Ryan White CARE Act funding for housing assistance. Advocacy efforts are underway to reverse the HRSA Housing Policy, possibly through a moratorium in the FY 2009 Labor-HHS bill.

AIDS Action and the National AIDS Housing Coalition (NAHC) are soliciting any statistical or anecdotal information you may have about the potential negative impact of the HRSA housing policy. Any examples of the immediate or prospective impact of the HRSA housing policy in your community would be invaluable. Please send information to both myself and Nancy Bernstine, Executive Director of the National AIDS Housing Coalition at nancy@nationalaidshousing.org.

Announcements

1. HIV Vaccine Awareness Day is May 18^th

May 18^th marks the eighth annual HIV Vaccine Awareness Day (HVAD). This annual observance is a day to recognize and thank the thousands of volunteers, community members, health professionals, and scientists who are working together to find a safe and effective HIV vaccine. It is also a day to educate our communities about the importance of preventive HIV vaccine research. In recognition of HIV Vaccine Awareness Day, community activities and media events are being held around the country. To learn more visit www.bethegeneration.org.

For events happening in your area, and HIV vaccine research information produced by the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID), click here.

2. National Asian and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is May 19^th

May 19^th is the fourth annual National Asian and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. Organizations around the country dedicated to providing HIV/AIDS services to Asians and Pacific Islanders (APIs) will host events to raise awareness of the impact of HIV/AIDS among API communities.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) the number of APIs living with AIDS has climbed more that 10 percent in the last five years. The Banyan Tree Project, a national campaign funded by the CDC to stop HIV/AIDS related stigma in Asian and Pacific Islander communities is the lead organizer of National Asian and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. To learn more, click here: Banyan Tree Project.

The AIDS Action Weekly Update

The Weekly Update is written with the interests of our members in mind. If you are interested in membership with AIDS Action, we invite you to contact aford@aidsaction.org.

AIDS Action works to end the HIV epidemic by advancing public policies that prevent new infections, provide care for people living with HIV, and support the search for a cure. AIDS Action serves as the national voice for AIDS service organizations, health departments, and a diverse network of community-based organizations across the country, working with and for people living with and affected by HIV.

AIDS Action 1730 M Street, NW Suite 611 Washington, DC 20036 * phone: (202) 530-8030 * fax: (202) 530-8031 www.aidsaction.org