FYI: Rep. Maxine Waters is circulating a Minority AIDS Initiative funding request letter

[Guest guest]

For Your Information:

Rep. Maxine Waters, along with Reps. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Madeleine Bordallo,

Fortuño, and Donna Christensen, is circulating a letter among her

colleagues in the House of Representatives in support of funding for the

Minority AIDS Initiative. Members of Congress have until Friday, March 14, to

sign on to this letter. The letter is below and attached.

Kathleen Sengstock

Rep. Maxine Waters

2344 Rayburn

(202) 225-2201

March 6, 2008

Support the Minority AIDS Initiative

Dear Colleague:

We urge you to join us in sending the attached letter to the Chairman and

Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services and

Education Appropriations requesting an appropriation of $610 million for the

Minority AIDS Initiative in fiscal year 2009.

According to the most recent data available from the Centers for Disease

Control and Prevention, racial and ethnic minorities represent 71% of new AIDS

cases and 64% of Americans living with AIDS. African Americans account for 50%

of new AIDS cases, although only 12% of the population is black. Hispanics

account for 19% of new AIDS cases, although only 14% of the population is

Hispanic. Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders account for 1% of new AIDS cases,

and American Indians/Alaska Natives account for up to 1%. Clearly, racial and

ethnic minorities shoulder a disproportionate burden of HIV and AIDS.

These statistics demonstrate the tremendous importance of the Minority AIDS

Initiative. This critical initiative provides funds to community­based

organizations, research institutions, minority­serving colleges and

universities, health care organizations, state and local health departments, and

correctional institutions to help them address the HIV/AIDS epidemic within the

minority populations they serve. The Minority AIDS Initiative is designed to

enable organizations and providers in minority communities to improve their

capacity to deliver culturally and linguistically appropriate care and services.

Thus, it fills gaps in prevention, treatment, surveillance, infrastructure,

outreach and education across communities of color.

Please join us in supporting an appropriation of $610 million for the Minority

AIDS Initiative in fiscal year 2009. The letter is attached. If you have any

questions or would like to sign the letter, please contact Kathleen Sengstock of

Congresswoman Waters' staff at 52201.

Sincerely,

______________________________ ______________________________

Maxine Waters Ileana Ros-Lehtinen

______________________________ ______________________________

Madeleine Bordallo Fortuño

______________________________

Donna Christensen

March __, 2008

The Honorable Obey

Chairman

Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations

2358 Rayburn Building

The Honorable T. Walsh

Ranking Member

Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations

1016 Longworth Building

Dear ________:

We are writing to request that you provide an appropriation of $610 million for

the Minority AIDS Initiative in the Labor, Health and Human Services and

Education Appropriations bill for fiscal year 2009.

According to the most recent data available from the Centers for Disease

Control and Prevention, racial and ethnic minorities represent 71% of new AIDS

cases and 64% of Americans living with AIDS. African Americans account for 50%

of new AIDS cases, although only 12% of the population is black. Hispanics

account for 19% of new AIDS cases, although only 14% of the population is

Hispanic. Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders account for 1% of new AIDS cases,

and American Indians/Alaska Natives account for up to 1%. Clearly, racial and

ethnic minorities shoulder a disproportionate burden of HIV and AIDS.

These statistics demonstrate the tremendous importance of the Minority AIDS

Initiative. This critical initiative provides funds to community­based

organizations, research institutions, minority­serving colleges and

universities, health care organizations, state and local health departments, and

correctional institutions to help them address the HIV/AIDS epidemic within the

minority populations they serve. The Minority AIDS Initiative is designed to

enable organizations and providers in minority communities to improve their

capacity to deliver culturally and linguistically appropriate care and services.

Thus, it fills gaps in prevention, treatment, surveillance, infrastructure,

outreach and education across communities of color.

We urge you to provide $610 million for the Minority AIDS Initiative in fiscal

year 2009. We thank you for your attention to our concerns, and we look forward

to working with you to expand programs for the prevention and treatment of

HIV/AIDS in minority communities throughout the United States.

Sincerely,