Dear Diane and RESULTS friends:
I haven't seen Polly since Sunday, but I understand she is having radiation on the tumor on her brain, to reduce her nausea and dizziness. She went home for a couple of days, but that wasn't working out, so now she is at Cottage Grove Place. Her family is staying in her home, and she is going to Mercy Hosp. for radiation treatments. Mail can be sent to her home address, and she would probably welcome company at Cottage Grove Place, but call first, to be sure she's there. There's still no determination of the source of her cancer - breast or lungs - but diagnosis would only tell whether she has a few more weeks or possibly 2-3 months.
Kathy
Friday, March 28, 2008
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Domestic Call March 27
The new hunger fellows in the RESULTS Washington office have been going to training with Families USA to learn about messaging on healthcare -- things like buzz words to use and words to avoid.
The April action will be on healthcare policy. RESULTS is still working out whether to back single-payer healthcare or another option.
The Farm Bill is still in active discussion and we need to make calls to our ag aides to follow through on our request that Food Stamps and rural development be funded first.
The speaker for the April call hasn't been confirmed yet, but his initials may be TD, former Senator from North Dakota, I believe it was.
The April action will be on healthcare policy. RESULTS is still working out whether to back single-payer healthcare or another option.
The Farm Bill is still in active discussion and we need to make calls to our ag aides to follow through on our request that Food Stamps and rural development be funded first.
The speaker for the April call hasn't been confirmed yet, but his initials may be TD, former Senator from North Dakota, I believe it was.
Global Call March 26
Because Congress is in recess there is no legislative update.
We practiced a speaking exercise from the storytelling call of last Wednesday. People rarely remember the specific points of a presentation, even if it is a great one. What they remember is how they felt about it. Presentation matters more than facts.
This is a valuable tool for our laser talks. We can always follow up later with specific dollar amounts, but the story illustrating the need will be remembered.
We practiced a speaking exercise from the storytelling call of last Wednesday. People rarely remember the specific points of a presentation, even if it is a great one. What they remember is how they felt about it. Presentation matters more than facts.
This is a valuable tool for our laser talks. We can always follow up later with specific dollar amounts, but the story illustrating the need will be remembered.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
March 20 Domestic Call
Tom from Des Moines read us the letter his group has submitted to the Register. It's concise and powerful, comparing the Economic Stimulus Package, passed in two weeks, and the bail-out of a private bank by the Fed, done within two days, to the year it's taken to spend far less on a new Farm Bill. I will try to get a copy of it to share with you.
The Farm Bill is the big concern on the domestic side right now. Barbara has already made her two phone calls. I plan to make mine this afternoon. What better way to express the "Love One Another" command of Maundy Thursday than by making these phone calls. At least, that's what I think.
Our group audit is now complete. RESULTS has our checks and information sheets (which, I hope this is okay, I filled them out for you as they asked for name, address, phone, email and the like. I didn't want to spend meeting time having everyone fill out their own form. After two years on welfare and food stamps, I have something of an aversion to handing people forms to fill out!).
The Farm Bill is the big concern on the domestic side right now. Barbara has already made her two phone calls. I plan to make mine this afternoon. What better way to express the "Love One Another" command of Maundy Thursday than by making these phone calls. At least, that's what I think.
Our group audit is now complete. RESULTS has our checks and information sheets (which, I hope this is okay, I filled them out for you as they asked for name, address, phone, email and the like. I didn't want to spend meeting time having everyone fill out their own form. After two years on welfare and food stamps, I have something of an aversion to handing people forms to fill out!).
March 19 Global Update
Good news: the Senate Foreign Relations Committee passed the AIDS, TB and Malaria bill out of committee 18-3 with no amendments. This legislation has been in the works for 10 years and includes $4B for TB globally in the total $50B bill. The bill will now go to the House and Senate floors in different versions for a vote in April. We may be asked to make calls and write letters prior to the April vote.
World TB Day is March 24. Diane needs to put together a press release for the Gazette and for KCRG including the number of TB cases in Linn County. I may interview my brother, life-long CR resident, who is currently being treated for TB exposure.
I was pleased to report on our plans for the fundraiser June 1. I have scheduled the date with Susan at Christ Episcopal and alerted JoAnn that a $200 check from People's Church will start out our fundraising efforts.
World TB Day is March 24. Diane needs to put together a press release for the Gazette and for KCRG including the number of TB cases in Linn County. I may interview my brother, life-long CR resident, who is currently being treated for TB exposure.
I was pleased to report on our plans for the fundraiser June 1. I have scheduled the date with Susan at Christ Episcopal and alerted JoAnn that a $200 check from People's Church will start out our fundraising efforts.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
March 6 Domestic Call
The Farm Bill is still in conference committee. The issue is money, and where the $10B over ten years is going to come from. Saturday's conference call will have a speaking exercise on the Farm Bill and how to talk to a MoC aide.
I sent a follow-up email to Congressman Loebsack after our meeting last Friday. It is below. I will call Alicia Trimble, the aide that was in our meeting, next Friday to thank her for her work during the meeting and for following up with us on the Congressman's testimony on Head Start before the Budget Committee, and the good news that PEPFAR had been appoved in the House for the $50B we had asked for.
I sent a follow-up email to Congressman Loebsack after our meeting last Friday. It is below. I will call Alicia Trimble, the aide that was in our meeting, next Friday to thank her for her work during the meeting and for following up with us on the Congressman's testimony on Head Start before the Budget Committee, and the good news that PEPFAR had been appoved in the House for the $50B we had asked for.
Follow-up Email to Congressman Loebsack
Dear Congressman Loebsack, thank you so much for your time on February 29 to meet with our RESULTS group. Kate, Kathy, Barbara, Leslee, Polly and I really enjoyed our conversation.
We would like to meet with you twice a year: once in your Cedar Rapids office and a second time in your Washington office during the RESULTS International Conference in July. I will call to make the July appointment.
I just read on your website about your vote for the The Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act and I applaud you. This legislation is sorely needed. I am bipolar and my older brother is schizophrenic. My brother is a Veteran, so his needs are met through the VA. When I was working there was a year that my employer didn't have a contract with the firm my psychiatrist holds his office in, and I paid the doctor fees myself. It was indeed a hardship.
Alicia Trimble followed up with us last Monday about your PEPFAR vote and your testimony before the House Budget Committee on Head Start. Again, thank you for all you good work on Head Start.
The Farm Bill is still being worked on in the conference committee. I hope you can find a moment to talk to one of the House committee members and share with them that the commodity subsidy structure can be reformed so that more money is available for the Nutrition Title.
Thanks again for making us proud to be from Iowa's Second District.
We would like to meet with you twice a year: once in your Cedar Rapids office and a second time in your Washington office during the RESULTS International Conference in July. I will call to make the July appointment.
I just read on your website about your vote for the The Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act and I applaud you. This legislation is sorely needed. I am bipolar and my older brother is schizophrenic. My brother is a Veteran, so his needs are met through the VA. When I was working there was a year that my employer didn't have a contract with the firm my psychiatrist holds his office in, and I paid the doctor fees myself. It was indeed a hardship.
Alicia Trimble followed up with us last Monday about your PEPFAR vote and your testimony before the House Budget Committee on Head Start. Again, thank you for all you good work on Head Start.
The Farm Bill is still being worked on in the conference committee. I hope you can find a moment to talk to one of the House committee members and share with them that the commodity subsidy structure can be reformed so that more money is available for the Nutrition Title.
Thanks again for making us proud to be from Iowa's Second District.
Monday, March 3, 2008
Recap of our meeting with Congressman Loebsack
In our February 29 meeting with Congressman Loebsack, we were slotted for 30 minutes. Our meeting lasted 45, which is a good sign that he was interested in what we were lobbying on.
After introductions, Diane thanked the Congressman for his co-sponsorship of the Global Poverty Act; his co-sponsorship of the Stop TB Now Act; and especially for his excellent work on the subcommittee which drafted the Head Start Reauthorization Bill. He seemed genuinely appreciative to be appreciated.
Kate talked about the importance of adequate funding for Head Start, and the Congressman said he had just the day before testified before the House Budget Committee. Aide Alicia Trimble sent his testimony today. It is in a post below. The Congressman told us he thought the Administration had under-funded Head Start by $623 million.
Kathy gave a laser talk about the Nutrition Title of the Farm Bill and did an excellent job turning her laser talk into a conversation with the Congressman. He said he would talk to the chair of the House conference committee on updating the $1/meal base and on upgrading the asset limitations for receiving Food Stamps. We all thought the conference committee members for the House had not yet been chosen.
Barbara talked about the need to stop the Bush Administration's proposed new regulations for Medicaid. The Congressman said these proposed regulations would move more power to the States, eventually, according to the Administration's hopes, privatizing Medicaid. She asked for a moratorium on new Medicaid regulations. The Congressman said he felt confident the Congress could stop these regulations from taking hold.
Diane explained that of the 100 RESULTS groups, only the Cedar Rapids Area RESULTS Group works on both global and domestic issues and that now we wanted to talk global.
With Paula's difficulties in making the meeting on Friday, Diane did her best presenting PEPFAR Reauthorization for five years at $50B, which the Congressman was well familiar with. He did say he agreed with the Administration on the work they had done in Africa regarding health. He sent a follow-up today, printed below. It is a yes on Paula's ask of $50B.
Leslee talked about education and the Fast Track Initiative. Normally, explained the Congressman, Fast Track refers to trade, so there was some conversation making the distinction that our Fast Track Initiative referred to education. Diane will email Alicia Trimble, the Congressman's aide in the meeting, asking for the House leader on the Fast Track Initiative. The follow-up his office sent today was on trade, so we will need to make the education distinction again.
Polly talked about microcredit, asking for $500M. The Congressman enjoyed Polly's stories about how microcredit had changed lives for the better and we will need to be more active in lobbying the Congressman to attend House World Bank meetings with President Zoellick and to support microcredit letters circulating in the House.
The Congressman said email is a good way to communicate with him, and that we could follow up with Alicia Trimble.
On Tuesday, March 4, Diane will get background on Fast Track Initiative from Leslee and follow through with Alicia to ask if she can let us know who the leader is in the House.
After introductions, Diane thanked the Congressman for his co-sponsorship of the Global Poverty Act; his co-sponsorship of the Stop TB Now Act; and especially for his excellent work on the subcommittee which drafted the Head Start Reauthorization Bill. He seemed genuinely appreciative to be appreciated.
Kate talked about the importance of adequate funding for Head Start, and the Congressman said he had just the day before testified before the House Budget Committee. Aide Alicia Trimble sent his testimony today. It is in a post below. The Congressman told us he thought the Administration had under-funded Head Start by $623 million.
Kathy gave a laser talk about the Nutrition Title of the Farm Bill and did an excellent job turning her laser talk into a conversation with the Congressman. He said he would talk to the chair of the House conference committee on updating the $1/meal base and on upgrading the asset limitations for receiving Food Stamps. We all thought the conference committee members for the House had not yet been chosen.
Barbara talked about the need to stop the Bush Administration's proposed new regulations for Medicaid. The Congressman said these proposed regulations would move more power to the States, eventually, according to the Administration's hopes, privatizing Medicaid. She asked for a moratorium on new Medicaid regulations. The Congressman said he felt confident the Congress could stop these regulations from taking hold.
Diane explained that of the 100 RESULTS groups, only the Cedar Rapids Area RESULTS Group works on both global and domestic issues and that now we wanted to talk global.
With Paula's difficulties in making the meeting on Friday, Diane did her best presenting PEPFAR Reauthorization for five years at $50B, which the Congressman was well familiar with. He did say he agreed with the Administration on the work they had done in Africa regarding health. He sent a follow-up today, printed below. It is a yes on Paula's ask of $50B.
Leslee talked about education and the Fast Track Initiative. Normally, explained the Congressman, Fast Track refers to trade, so there was some conversation making the distinction that our Fast Track Initiative referred to education. Diane will email Alicia Trimble, the Congressman's aide in the meeting, asking for the House leader on the Fast Track Initiative. The follow-up his office sent today was on trade, so we will need to make the education distinction again.
Polly talked about microcredit, asking for $500M. The Congressman enjoyed Polly's stories about how microcredit had changed lives for the better and we will need to be more active in lobbying the Congressman to attend House World Bank meetings with President Zoellick and to support microcredit letters circulating in the House.
The Congressman said email is a good way to communicate with him, and that we could follow up with Alicia Trimble.
On Tuesday, March 4, Diane will get background on Fast Track Initiative from Leslee and follow through with Alicia to ask if she can let us know who the leader is in the House.
Congressman Loebsack's PEPFAR Follow-up
PEPFAR: The House Foreign Affairs Committee passed PEPFAR Reauthorization on February 27th. The bill’s official title is the Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde United States Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Reauthorization Act (H.R. 5501). It reauthorizes PEPFAR for five years reauthorization and provides $50 billion for the program over that time. The Administration had called for $30 billion. HR 5501’s goal is to move beyond the “emergency” phase of implementation under PEPFAR by making the programs sustainable over the long term. It increases programming related to women and girls; strengthens health systems within the countries; authorizes food, nutrition, education, and health care programs; and increases U.S. contributions to the Global Fund for HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. It eliminates the requirement that one third of funds go to abstinence only programs and instead requires a “balanced” prevention program in all countries where the program operates, including every element of the Abstinence, “Be Faithful,” and Condoms (ABC) approach toward HIV transmission prevention.
Congressman Loebsack's Head Start Testimony
Testimony of Congressman Dave Loebsack
Provided to The Budget Committee
U.S. House of Representatives
Good morning Mr. Chairman, Ranking Member Ryan, and members of the House Budget
Committee. It is an honor to testify before you on the issues most important to the families,
students, seniors, and veterans of Iowa's Second Congressional District. The needs and priorities
of the constituents I represent have not been reflected in the Administration's Fiscal Year 2009
Budget.
For too long, Washington has left behind hardworking Americans. In Iowa, this is evident in the
good people that are struggling to provide for their families, put food on the table, afford quality
health care, send their children to college, fill their gas tanks, and save for retirement. The FY
2009 budget request is a continuation of this Administration's failed policies that have left
people struggling to make ends meet.
Today, I urge you to reject the Administration's budget proposal when drafting the Budget
Resolution for Fiscal Year 2009.
First, I would like you to closely examine the needs of our law enforcement community, because
once again, the Administration's budget fails to recognize the importance of the Edward Byme
Memorial Justice Assistance Grant program to the safety of our communities, schools, and
children.
Byme JAG is effective because it puts funding directly into the hands of those who know best
how to combat crime and fosters the cooperation necessary to take drugs off of our streets.
Yet the Administration has proposed eliminating all direct grants to States and local law
enforcement and instead to create a single competitive grant program that would pit States, law
enforcement, prosecutors, and drug prevention organizations against one another while under-
funding the entire program.
Byme JAG is proven, effective, and critical to public safety. I call on you to fully fund Byme
JAG and to reject the Administration's proposed changes.
Second, as the budget process moves forward, I respectfully urge the Committee to look closely
at the funding needs for programs that support Iowa's students,
I am living proof of how community and education can make a difference. I grew up in poverty.
Times were tough, but I focused on school.
With the help of academic financial assistance, in combination with hard work, I had the strength
and resources to overcome these personal hardships and achieve the American Dream. For
today's children, this dream is quickly slipping away.
For children growing up in poverty today, their first chance at success is Head Start,
Unfortunately, the Administration provided only a small increase of $149 million for Head Start
following a $10 million dollar cut in funding last year.
As a member of the Education and Labor Committee, I along with my colleagues reauthorized
this important program. We worked hard to produce bipartisan legislation that has been signed
into law. If funded properly. Head Start will help many more children reach kindergarten ready
to succeed.
As children progress through the education system, they encounter crumbling schools,
overworked, underpaid teachers, and supply shortages. As we work to reauthorize the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act this year, I am disappointed by the Administration's
proposals for NCLB. The proposed increase for public schools is not enough even to keep pace
with inflation.
Higher Education also suffers under this budget which cuts new student benefits provided by
Congress under the College Cost Reduction and Access Act. In addition, the Administration
asks for $4,800 for the Pell Grant scholarship, but I urge the Committee to support $5100,
bringing us closer to meeting our ultimate goal of $5,400.
I would also be remiss if I did not address the need to fully fund the Individuals with Disabilities
Education Act. Though the budget includes a $337 million increase in IDEA funding, it
provides far less than what is needed, to give necessary support to students with disabilities.
The Administration's budget has severely shortchanged our nation's students by failing to
adequately fund Head Start, No Child Left Behind, Higher Education and IDEA. I ask you to
reject these budget proposals and fully fund these critical programs to ensure our children receive a first rate education starting in childhood and continuing through adulthood.
Public safety and education are not partisan issues; they are critical domestic matters that are
suffering under the Administration's misguided polices. However, these are only two of many
domestic concerns I fear are being ignored.
I want to conclude by thanking you for this opportunity to represent the needs and priorities of
Iowa's Second Congressional District in front of the House Budget Committee, and urge each of
you to take our country in a new direction when developing the Budget Resolution for Fiscal
Year 2009.
Provided to The Budget Committee
U.S. House of Representatives
Good morning Mr. Chairman, Ranking Member Ryan, and members of the House Budget
Committee. It is an honor to testify before you on the issues most important to the families,
students, seniors, and veterans of Iowa's Second Congressional District. The needs and priorities
of the constituents I represent have not been reflected in the Administration's Fiscal Year 2009
Budget.
For too long, Washington has left behind hardworking Americans. In Iowa, this is evident in the
good people that are struggling to provide for their families, put food on the table, afford quality
health care, send their children to college, fill their gas tanks, and save for retirement. The FY
2009 budget request is a continuation of this Administration's failed policies that have left
people struggling to make ends meet.
Today, I urge you to reject the Administration's budget proposal when drafting the Budget
Resolution for Fiscal Year 2009.
First, I would like you to closely examine the needs of our law enforcement community, because
once again, the Administration's budget fails to recognize the importance of the Edward Byme
Memorial Justice Assistance Grant program to the safety of our communities, schools, and
children.
Byme JAG is effective because it puts funding directly into the hands of those who know best
how to combat crime and fosters the cooperation necessary to take drugs off of our streets.
Yet the Administration has proposed eliminating all direct grants to States and local law
enforcement and instead to create a single competitive grant program that would pit States, law
enforcement, prosecutors, and drug prevention organizations against one another while under-
funding the entire program.
Byme JAG is proven, effective, and critical to public safety. I call on you to fully fund Byme
JAG and to reject the Administration's proposed changes.
Second, as the budget process moves forward, I respectfully urge the Committee to look closely
at the funding needs for programs that support Iowa's students,
I am living proof of how community and education can make a difference. I grew up in poverty.
Times were tough, but I focused on school.
With the help of academic financial assistance, in combination with hard work, I had the strength
and resources to overcome these personal hardships and achieve the American Dream. For
today's children, this dream is quickly slipping away.
For children growing up in poverty today, their first chance at success is Head Start,
Unfortunately, the Administration provided only a small increase of $149 million for Head Start
following a $10 million dollar cut in funding last year.
As a member of the Education and Labor Committee, I along with my colleagues reauthorized
this important program. We worked hard to produce bipartisan legislation that has been signed
into law. If funded properly. Head Start will help many more children reach kindergarten ready
to succeed.
As children progress through the education system, they encounter crumbling schools,
overworked, underpaid teachers, and supply shortages. As we work to reauthorize the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act this year, I am disappointed by the Administration's
proposals for NCLB. The proposed increase for public schools is not enough even to keep pace
with inflation.
Higher Education also suffers under this budget which cuts new student benefits provided by
Congress under the College Cost Reduction and Access Act. In addition, the Administration
asks for $4,800 for the Pell Grant scholarship, but I urge the Committee to support $5100,
bringing us closer to meeting our ultimate goal of $5,400.
I would also be remiss if I did not address the need to fully fund the Individuals with Disabilities
Education Act. Though the budget includes a $337 million increase in IDEA funding, it
provides far less than what is needed, to give necessary support to students with disabilities.
The Administration's budget has severely shortchanged our nation's students by failing to
adequately fund Head Start, No Child Left Behind, Higher Education and IDEA. I ask you to
reject these budget proposals and fully fund these critical programs to ensure our children receive a first rate education starting in childhood and continuing through adulthood.
Public safety and education are not partisan issues; they are critical domestic matters that are
suffering under the Administration's misguided polices. However, these are only two of many
domestic concerns I fear are being ignored.
I want to conclude by thanking you for this opportunity to represent the needs and priorities of
Iowa's Second Congressional District in front of the House Budget Committee, and urge each of
you to take our country in a new direction when developing the Budget Resolution for Fiscal
Year 2009.
Saturday, March 1, 2008
PEPFAR Reauthorization Update
From ONE:
Hey Folks,When it rains it pours. It looks like there's been a real breakthrough on PEPFAR reauthorization thanks to some good ol bi-partisan diplomacy, and maybe a bit of encouragement from concerned citizens. ;)The heart of the matter:
The bipartisan bill, dubbed the Lantos-Hyde US Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, TB, Malaria Act, would allow the U.S. to provide lifesaving treatment through bilateral channels for at least three million AIDS patients; prevent 12 million new infections; provide care five million AIDS orphans; and train and support 140,000 new health professionals. The bill also provides $4 billion for the treatment and prevention of tuberculosis and $5 billion to fight malaria.It's not a done deal yet, there's still a lot to the process, but things were looking really bad there for a while, so this is extremely welcome news.This is just another FYI, you don't need to do anything on this. It's just good to know things are going in the right direction. Feel free to pass along to your groups if you think that's useful.
Thanks,
Josh Chernila, ONE
Washington, DC----FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Kimberly Cadena February 27, 2008 PHONE: (202) 669-0802 ONE Lauds House for Crafting Bipartisan PEPFAR Reauthorization Working with the White House, Berman and Ros-Lehtinen continue legacy of bipartisan support for lifesaving program Washington, D.C. – A late-night breakthrough cleared the way for bipartisan legislation aimed at fighting three of the deadliest diseases on the planet -- HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis. The deal, crafted by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Howard Berman (CA-28), Ranking Member Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL-18) and the White House, means that America's support for millions of people suffering from these diseases will grow substantially. "This legislation continues the American legacy of compassion and help for millions of people around the world struggling to survive the world's deadliest diseases in the world's worst conditions. HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis claim nearly five million lives each year. This bipartisan legislation will bring greater resources and a strong response to these diseases. This legislation will save lives," ONE President and CEO David Lane said. After Berman and Ros-Lehtinen reached a bipartisan agreement with the White House on the proposal late Tuesday night, the House Foreign Affairs Committee today approved the five-year expansion of PEPFAR. "Chairman Berman, Ranking Member Ros-Lehtinen and the White House deserve enormous credit for coming together on this effort. They have proved that bipartisan leadership is not an oxymoron in Washington, D.C. When our leaders step away from partisanship and come together in common purpose, they can achieve amazing things," Lane added. The bipartisan bill, dubbed the Lantos-Hyde US Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, TB, Malaria Act, would allow the U.S. to provide lifesaving treatment through bilateral channels for at least three million AIDS patients; prevent 12 million new infections; provide care five million AIDS orphans; and train and support 140,000 new health professionals. The bill also provides $4 billion for the treatment and prevention of tuberculosis and $5 billion to fight malaria. "PEPFAR is an American legacy that has saved the lives of at least 1.4 million people so far, mostly in Africa, who have HIV/AIDS and many more from malaria and tuberculosis – three of the deadliest killers in our world. ONE urges the House and Senate to move on this legislation quickly," Lane said. Treatment has been one of PEPFAR's greatest successes, allowing more than 1.4 million people with HIV/AIDS around the world to receive lifesaving ARV treatments. The new legislation transitions PEPFAR from an emergency response to a sustainable response program, providing for expanded training for 140,000 new health care professionals and community care workers. The bill also strongly focuses on prevention, a necessary evolution of the program in order to stop the spread of the disease. The new legislation includes comprehensive efforts that place a special emphasis on women and on the underlying factors which make them vulnerable to HIV infection, including a focus on violence against women. Lane concluded, "Bipartisan PEPFAR reauthorization means that not only will we see our commitment through to continue providing lifesaving anti-retroviral drugs to those individuals, but that we also will be able to treat more individuals with the virus, saving more lives and protecting more families and communities. This agreement is a strong and positive way to begin this process. We look forward to Congress passing this historic legislation later this year." ONE is a movement of millions of Americans working with more than 150 of the nation's leading relief, humanitarian and advocacy organizations to rally Americans -- ONE by ONE -- to fight the emergency of global AIDS and extreme poverty. For more information, please visit: ONE.org. - # # # -
From Eloise:
This morning I attended the mark-up of the PEPFAR bill by the House Foreign Affairs, Africa & Global Health Subcommittee. Unfortunately there were so many people wanting to observe that I ended up in another packed room watching on a TV. Leadership of the subcommittee had reached a compromise last night. Others on the subcommittee had not seen the compromise bill until they arrived for the mark-up. No amendments were allowed. Some members were upset that they had not had time to read through the bill. One member was angry the “$50 million dollars was being spent on people who just need to learn to change their behavior” when we can’t even take care of our own people. He mentioned that we are not taking care of our veterans and that he had a family member without health insurance. One of his colleagues commented that he was glad to know that he supported health insurance for all. In the end, the compromise bill was passed by the subcommittee by voice vote. The amendment we had heard was coming for development of a TB vaccine was included in the compromise bill. At this point it looks like all the TB stuff stayed in the bill. Great job! Eloise
Hey Folks,When it rains it pours. It looks like there's been a real breakthrough on PEPFAR reauthorization thanks to some good ol bi-partisan diplomacy, and maybe a bit of encouragement from concerned citizens. ;)The heart of the matter:
The bipartisan bill, dubbed the Lantos-Hyde US Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, TB, Malaria Act, would allow the U.S. to provide lifesaving treatment through bilateral channels for at least three million AIDS patients; prevent 12 million new infections; provide care five million AIDS orphans; and train and support 140,000 new health professionals. The bill also provides $4 billion for the treatment and prevention of tuberculosis and $5 billion to fight malaria.It's not a done deal yet, there's still a lot to the process, but things were looking really bad there for a while, so this is extremely welcome news.This is just another FYI, you don't need to do anything on this. It's just good to know things are going in the right direction. Feel free to pass along to your groups if you think that's useful.
Thanks,
Josh Chernila, ONE
Washington, DC----FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Kimberly Cadena February 27, 2008 PHONE: (202) 669-0802 ONE Lauds House for Crafting Bipartisan PEPFAR Reauthorization Working with the White House, Berman and Ros-Lehtinen continue legacy of bipartisan support for lifesaving program Washington, D.C. – A late-night breakthrough cleared the way for bipartisan legislation aimed at fighting three of the deadliest diseases on the planet -- HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis. The deal, crafted by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Howard Berman (CA-28), Ranking Member Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL-18) and the White House, means that America's support for millions of people suffering from these diseases will grow substantially. "This legislation continues the American legacy of compassion and help for millions of people around the world struggling to survive the world's deadliest diseases in the world's worst conditions. HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis claim nearly five million lives each year. This bipartisan legislation will bring greater resources and a strong response to these diseases. This legislation will save lives," ONE President and CEO David Lane said. After Berman and Ros-Lehtinen reached a bipartisan agreement with the White House on the proposal late Tuesday night, the House Foreign Affairs Committee today approved the five-year expansion of PEPFAR. "Chairman Berman, Ranking Member Ros-Lehtinen and the White House deserve enormous credit for coming together on this effort. They have proved that bipartisan leadership is not an oxymoron in Washington, D.C. When our leaders step away from partisanship and come together in common purpose, they can achieve amazing things," Lane added. The bipartisan bill, dubbed the Lantos-Hyde US Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, TB, Malaria Act, would allow the U.S. to provide lifesaving treatment through bilateral channels for at least three million AIDS patients; prevent 12 million new infections; provide care five million AIDS orphans; and train and support 140,000 new health professionals. The bill also provides $4 billion for the treatment and prevention of tuberculosis and $5 billion to fight malaria. "PEPFAR is an American legacy that has saved the lives of at least 1.4 million people so far, mostly in Africa, who have HIV/AIDS and many more from malaria and tuberculosis – three of the deadliest killers in our world. ONE urges the House and Senate to move on this legislation quickly," Lane said. Treatment has been one of PEPFAR's greatest successes, allowing more than 1.4 million people with HIV/AIDS around the world to receive lifesaving ARV treatments. The new legislation transitions PEPFAR from an emergency response to a sustainable response program, providing for expanded training for 140,000 new health care professionals and community care workers. The bill also strongly focuses on prevention, a necessary evolution of the program in order to stop the spread of the disease. The new legislation includes comprehensive efforts that place a special emphasis on women and on the underlying factors which make them vulnerable to HIV infection, including a focus on violence against women. Lane concluded, "Bipartisan PEPFAR reauthorization means that not only will we see our commitment through to continue providing lifesaving anti-retroviral drugs to those individuals, but that we also will be able to treat more individuals with the virus, saving more lives and protecting more families and communities. This agreement is a strong and positive way to begin this process. We look forward to Congress passing this historic legislation later this year." ONE is a movement of millions of Americans working with more than 150 of the nation's leading relief, humanitarian and advocacy organizations to rally Americans -- ONE by ONE -- to fight the emergency of global AIDS and extreme poverty. For more information, please visit: ONE.org. - # # # -
From Eloise:
This morning I attended the mark-up of the PEPFAR bill by the House Foreign Affairs, Africa & Global Health Subcommittee. Unfortunately there were so many people wanting to observe that I ended up in another packed room watching on a TV. Leadership of the subcommittee had reached a compromise last night. Others on the subcommittee had not seen the compromise bill until they arrived for the mark-up. No amendments were allowed. Some members were upset that they had not had time to read through the bill. One member was angry the “$50 million dollars was being spent on people who just need to learn to change their behavior” when we can’t even take care of our own people. He mentioned that we are not taking care of our veterans and that he had a family member without health insurance. One of his colleagues commented that he was glad to know that he supported health insurance for all. In the end, the compromise bill was passed by the subcommittee by voice vote. The amendment we had heard was coming for development of a TB vaccine was included in the compromise bill. At this point it looks like all the TB stuff stayed in the bill. Great job! Eloise
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