February 3, 2004

NORA EXPRESSES DISAPPOINTMENT IN FUNDING LEVELS CONTAINED IN PRESIDENT’S FY 2005 BUDGET
Critical Domestic HIV/AIDS Programs Ignored

The National Organizations Responding to AIDS (NORA) coalition is disappointed over the funding levels for domestic HIV/AIDS programs included in the President’s fiscal year (FY) 2005 budget. NORA is dismayed that domestic prevention programs and care and treatment programs, with the exception of small increases in state AIDS Drug Assistance Programs (ADAPs) and the Minority HIV/AIDS Initiative, domestic HIV programs have been flat-funded or cut in the President’s budget for the fourth consecutive year. With roughly 900,000 Americans living with HIV and/or AIDS, and 40,000 new infections occurring each year, HIV remains a national public health emergency, and as such, demands an adequate federal government response.

As a broad based coalition, NORA understands the competing demands made on the federal budget. However, increased funding levels for domestic research, care, housing, prevention, training, and substance abuse treatment are necessary if we are to meet the needs of this public health crisis. While members of NORA were pleased to see that the President has added $38 million in funding for ADAP and the MHAI, we believe that these increases still fall far short of what is needed. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that one third of Americans living with HIV are unaware of their status, and of those that do know that they are HIV positive; half are not accessing medical care. Yet, despite a newly announced initiative to identify these people and get them into care, both prevention and care and treatment programs are flat-funded in FY 2005. How can federal public health programs commit to identifying and meeting the needs of these new populations when their budgets cannot adequately serve those already seeking care?

We applaud the President’s commitment to meeting the challenges of HIV and AIDS on a global scale; however, as a member of the global community the U.S. has a responsibility to meet the needs of those living with HIV and AIDS within its own borders, as well as around the world. We would also like to remind the Administration that modest increases in funding for international programs are no substitute for the critically-needed increases in domestic programs.

As they begin their budget and appropriations process, NORA calls on the Members of Congress to support increased funding levels for programs within the global and domestic AIDS portfolio. It is our hope that our government can better meet the health care needs of the close to one million Americans currently living with HIV and AIDS.

National Organizations Responding to AIDS (NORA) is a diverse coalition of national organizations responding to the AIDS epidemic. NORA's mission is to engage in concerted federal advocacy on national public policy on HIV and AIDS. The Coalition provides a forum for the discussion of emerging legislative, policy and programmatic issues surrounding the AIDS epidemic and for the comprehensive analysis of pending legislation and regulation for the purpose of determining priorities for legislative and administrative action.

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