August 20, 2010
"I welcome the President's request for additional HIV/AIDS funding for the coming fiscal year, though it is clear that much more funding is needed,” Congresswoman Lee said. “Nearly 3,000 people around the country have been put on waiting lists to access the lifesaving drugs provided through the AIDS Drug Assistance Program. Congress must respond to this urgent crisis and to the President's latest request by providing additional funding to immediately address this problem. I look forward to working with my colleagues in Congress to meet and exceed this request."
According to the announcement explaining the request for additional funding, an additional $35 million would go to HIV prevention efforts in order to continue new HIV prevention activities and another $30 million would be directed to AIDS drug-assistance programs designed to respond to the ongoing crisis that states are facing in operating these essential programs.
The announcement of the amendment comes just a month after the Obama Administration released the first-ever National HIV/AIDS Strategy, which seeks to reduce the annual number of new HIV infections by 25 percent within the next five years. Congresswoman Lee worked closely with the Obama Administration in crafting a strategy that will better coordinate and guide the national response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
Congresswoman Lee Applauds Request for Additional Funding for HIV/AIDS Programs
For Immediate Release
Contact: Ricci Graham
(510) 763-0370
Washington D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-09) released the following statement in response to an announcement by the White House Office of National AIDS Policy that the President will request an additional $65 million for HIV/AIDS programs for the 2011 fiscal year, which begins on October 1st:
"I welcome the President's request for additional HIV/AIDS funding for the coming fiscal year, though it is clear that much more funding is needed,” Congresswoman Lee said. “Nearly 3,000 people around the country have been put on waiting lists to access the lifesaving drugs provided through the AIDS Drug Assistance Program. Congress must respond to this urgent crisis and to the President's latest request by providing additional funding to immediately address this problem. I look forward to working with my colleagues in Congress to meet and exceed this request."
According to the announcement explaining the request for additional funding, an additional $35 million would go to HIV prevention efforts in order to continue new HIV prevention activities and another $30 million would be directed to AIDS drug-assistance programs designed to respond to the ongoing crisis that states are facing in operating these essential programs.
The announcement of the amendment comes just a month after the Obama Administration released the first-ever National HIV/AIDS Strategy, which seeks to reduce the annual number of new HIV infections by 25 percent within the next five years. Congresswoman Lee worked closely with the Obama Administration in crafting a strategy that will better coordinate and guide the national response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
###