AIDS Foundation of Chicago Inundates
White House, Governor's Office with Petitions
Calling for More Attention to AIDS

This week, the AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) will deliver more than 950 individually signed petitions to the White House from Illinois residents concerned with the Bush administration's lack of attention to the AIDS pandemic.

The petitions call on the president and Congress to demonstrate leadership in the fight against AIDS both at home and around the globe. The document, available online at www.aidschicago.org, also outlines recommendations for lawmakers to increase funding for domestic and international HIV/AIDS prevention, care, housing, and research programs, and to support comprehensive, science-based HIV prevention programs.

“Every minute, another four young people become infected with HIV and every hour more than 300 people die of AIDS-related complications. We cannot let this go on,” said Mark Ishaug, AFC executive director. “Our elected officials must display the political courage needed to end the terror that is HIV/AIDS.”

The AIDS Foundation of Chicago developed the petition drive as a tool to bring local and national attention to the need for increased leadership on HIV/AIDS issues, and to educate newly elected lawmakers on critical AIDS public policy. The National Association of People with AIDS will deliver the petitions to the White House Office of National AIDS Policy on behalf of AFC this week. More than 900 separate petitions will also be delivered to Illinois lawmakers and Governor Rod Blagojevich later this month.

AFC will also take part in a coordinated effort this month by AIDS organizations across the country to highlight the need for more funding for domestic and international AIDS programs and services. The coalition, consisting of dozens of regional and national AIDS groups, will meet with lawmakers in Washington, DC and in their respective local districts on January 15 to discuss the importance of including funding increases for AIDS programs in the FY03 and FY04 budgets. Critical HIV prevention programs and Ryan White CARE Act services such as the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) remain inadequately funded. In addition, President Bush's most recent budget request to Congress did not include funding increases for these essential programs. Congress has yet to pass a budget for FY03, which began in October, and has passed continuing resolutions to fund all government programs at current levels.

AIDS organizations have also organized a call-in day to members of Congress on Wednesday, January 15, urging them to increase funding levels for HIV/AIDS programs in the Labor-Health and Human Services-Education appropriations bill. For more information about this campaign, view our Action Alert.

Established in 1985 to provide central leadership in the fight against the epidemic, the AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) promotes sound HIV/AIDS public policy, funds HIV/AIDS care and prevention projects, and through its Service Providers Council, helps to coordinate the delivery of essential HIV/AIDS services.

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