Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) in calling on Senate leadership to include federal funding for HIV/AIDS treatment, prevention, and housing programs in the next COVID-19 pandemic response package to continue providing life-saving services to people living with and at risk of HIV and AIDS.
“This additional support for HIV/AIDS treatment, prevention, and housing programs is critical for ensuring that we can respond to two different pandemics that have impacted millions of Americans,” wrote the senators. “Thank you for your leadership in our nation’s response to COVID-19 as well as your long-standing support of people living with and at risk for HIV/AIDS.”
In their letter, the senators are urging Congressional leadership to include funding for the following programs in the next COVID-19 package:
- $500 million for HRSA’s Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program;
- $100 million for CDC’s Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention;
- $65 million for HUD’s Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS (HOPWA) Program; and
- $58 million for CDC’s Infectious Disease and Opioid Program and Ending the Ban on Federal Funding for Syringe Service Programs.
Senators Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Kamala D. Harris (D-Calif.), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Edward Markey (D-Mass.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) also signed the letter.
A full copy of the letter can be found HERE.
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