Congresswoman Barbara Lee Joins White House for World AIDS Day Celebration: Marks Signing of Global AIDS Legislation, Lauds Elimination of Waiting Lists for AIDS Drugs
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 2, 2013
Contact: Carrie Adams (202) 225-2661
Washington, D.C.— Today at the White House’s World AIDS Day commemoration, President Obama, along with Secretaries Kerry and Sebelius, recognized Congresswoman Barbara Lee’s leadership in the fight against AIDS, and announced that there are no longer any individuals on the NASTAD (National Alliance of State & Territorial AIDS Directors) waiting lists for AIDS treatments, commonly called ADAP (AIDS Drugs Assistance Program), marking a significant achievement in the availability and accessibility of life-saving AIDS medications.
Congresswoman Barbara Lee, founding co-chair of the Congressional HIV/AIDS Caucus, lauded this achievement and said, “This is a great day in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Not only did we mark incredible progress this World AIDS Day, but President Obama signed the PEPPFAR Stewardship and Oversight Act into law, which I am proud to have co-authored. President Obama also announced the elimination of waiting lists for AIDS medications, which we have worked for years to achieve. Not long ago, an AIDS diagnosis was considered a death sentence, and today, not only do we have treatments that help HIV+ people live healthy lives, those drugs are now more readily available. Congratulations to all the stakeholders in this process, including tremendous work by the United States government, the private sector, faith communities, philanthropies, doctors, patients, and advocates who have worked so hard for this day.”
Joining Congresswoman Lee is the President of HarborPath, an organization whose creation Rep. Lee joined President Clinton in supporting in 2011 to address the waitlist for AIDS medications. President Ken Trogon of HarborPath, whose mission is to provide streamlined access to HIV/AIDS medications through patient assistance programs said, “We are honored to have been a part of the ADAP waiting list program that has helped thousands of individuals living with HIV access their life-saving medicines.”
Julie Scofield, Executive Director of the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors (NASTAD) said, “The elimination of ADAP waiting lists represents a significant milestone given the number of individuals on ADAP waiting lists over the past five years. Despite difficult fiscal conditions, much needed Emergency Relief Funds (ERF) have helped ADAPs bridge critical funding gaps, eliminate existing waiting lists and prevent additional cost containment measures. However, while the elimination of ADAP waiting lists is indeed good news, many ADAPs have reduced services in the face of this fiscal crisis, which means fewer clients can be enrolled and fewer medications may be available to those who need them most. Continued pricing stability and funding for both HIV prevention and care are critical moving forward in order keep this momentum going and ensure access to life-saving treatment.”
To learn more about ADAP and NASTAD, visit NASTAD.org
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Follow Barbara Lee on Facebook and Twitter at @RepBarbaraLee. To learn more, visit lee.house.gov.
Congresswoman Lee has been a leader in the fight against the global HIV/AIDS pandemic. She co-authored legislation signed into law creating the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria in 2000, the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) in 2003, the PEPFAR Reauthorization Act in 2008, and in 2005 legislation addressing the needs of orphans and vulnerable children affected by HIV/AIDS. She has also been a leader in the effort to establish a National AIDS Strategy, and is a member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health, Human Services & Education with jurisdiction over all domestic HIV/AIDS funding. She is the only United States representative on United Nations Development Programme’s Global Commission on HIV and the Law and was the original sponsor of legislation that lead to the repeal of the Immigration and Travel ban that barred the entry of HIV positive individuals. The repeal allowed the International AIDS conference to take place in July 2012 in Washington, D.C., which was held in the U.S. after 20 years. Congresswoman Lee serves as a Representative from the United States to the 68th Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations.