Action Alert - 7/21/04

Urge Congress to Increase Funding for the Global Fund

Take Action: Tell your U.S. House representative and House Speaker Denny Hastert of Illinois to support no less than $1 billion for the Global Fund for AIDS, Malaria, and Tuberculosis in FY05. Call Speaker Hastert at 202-225-2976. If you don't know who represents you, click here

Leave This Message: “I’m calling from Illinois to urge the representative to support no less than $1 billion next year for the Global AIDS Fund.”

BACKGROUND: In Bangkok, U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan urged the United States to make a commitment to ending global HIV/AIDS akin to its commitment to fighting terrorism. Annan urged the U.S. to give $1 billion annually to the Global Fund for AIDS, Malaria, and Tuberculosis, which is chaired by U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson.

BAD NEWS: For fiscal year 2005, the Bush administration is seeking 64% LESS than the amount granted to the Fund this year. The administration requested $200 million for the Global Fund, a sharp decrease over the $540 million appropriated for the international assistance agency this year. U.S. Ambassador Randall Tobias confirmed that the Bush administration has no plans to increase giving to the Global Fund, focusing instead on the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. The Global Fund is supporting 300 HIV prevention and care projects in 130 countries. Increased funding is needed to sustain these grants and approve new ones. The Global Fund has already delayed a call for new proposals by six months because of insufficient donations.

GOOD NEWS: The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the European Union, and Great Britain recently announced plans to increase giving to the Global Fund. Appropriators in the U.S. House of Representatives also voted on July 15 to raise the amount slated for the Global Fund from $200 million to $400 million.