ALERT: Two Weeks to Save Key Programs for People with HIV/AIDS

Summary: Call Congress this week on Medicaid, and AIDS programs. The following action alert has been sent by the Campaign to End AIDS and several other organizations.

----------------------------------------

TWO WEEKS TO SAVE KEY PROGRAMS FOR PEOPLE WITH HIV/AIDS

Call Monday and Tuesday -- Tell Congress To Get Its Priorities Straight!

Last month, Congress postponed final work on the federal budget due to Hurricane Katrina. After that disaster, our nation saw how badly we need safety net programs for poor and disabled people including Medicaid, Ryan White and housing aid.

Since then, C2EA has joined other health and social justice advocates to urge Congress to take planned cuts in vital health care and social programs (including $10 billion in Medicaid cuts) off the table so we can help those in need.

But powerful voices in Congress are now calling for even deeper cuts to domestic programs, including Medicaid, supposedly to pay for the Katrina/Rita cleanup. They're even moving to slow down global AIDS initiatives!

Congress is going to try to make the cuts in the next two weeks we've got to stop them!_Please join a national call-in campaign next Monday and Tuesday, October 17 and 18 and tell Congress "NO CUTS, NOT NOW!"

TAKE ACTION: On October 17 or 18, call the U.S. Capitol toll-free at 888-802-1207. Ask to speak to one of the senators from your state and say:

"My name is ____ and I live in ______. Senator (name) must oppose cuts to programs for people with AIDS and people in need, including Medicaid, Ryan White, housing aid and global AIDS initiatives. It's a matter of life and death for people with AIDS. Get your priorities straight: don't cut healthcare and survival benefits for people with AIDS and others in need."

Then use the toll-free number (888-802-1207 or 800-426-8073 if you can't get through) and call your other senator and your representative. Give them the same message.

Congress has its priorities all screwed up: they want to cut health care, food, and important services for people in need, while extending tax cuts for profitable corporations and the very wealthy. It's time to call our Members of Congress one more time and demand that they stop these cuts now!

If you don't know who represents you in Congress, go to www.vote-smart.org

And visit www.campaigntoendaids.org to register for the C2EA Advocacy Day in Washington DC on November 8.

----------------------------------------

Return to home page: www.aidsnews.org

For a free online subscription to AIDS Treatment News send a blank email to subscribe@aidsnews.org -- and reply to the email request from Yahoo to confirm your subscription. You will receive about five emails or fewer per month and can leave the list at any time. Or just visit www.aidsnews.org to read the articles -- no subscription or registration required.

How to help AIDS Treatment News: www.aidsnews.org/canhelp