World AIDS Day reminds us that HIV has not gone away. There is still a vital need to increase awareness; fight prejudice stigma and discrimination; improve education; increase access to testing and treatment; raise funds and promote human rights.
Today we pray for all people who are living with HIV. We remember those who have died from AIDS-related illnesses. We give thanks for the progress that has been made; and ask God to give us strength and courage to stand up together to eliminate AIDS as a public health threat. It is important in this moment to raise our voices and demand that Congress do its job and act to adequately fund domestic HIV programs.
It is now or never! The House and Senate have until December 9th when the current 10-week Continuing Resolution (CR) that was passed at the end of September runs out. They must be held accountable to adequately fund domestic HIV programs, that impact our most vulnerable citizens.
Please join us in telling Congress to protect and invest in the lives of Americans living with HIV. Tell Congress to restore the cuts:
- Restore proposed cuts, including cuts that would eliminate the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Special Projects of National Significance (SPNS), the Title X Family Planning Program and the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program, while also reducing funding to Ryan White Part C.
Last June, the 222nd General Assembly approved an overture called "On Committing to Play an Active Part in the Global Response to the HIV/AIDS Epidemic” The overture commits us to:
"…play an active part in the global response to HIV and AIDS at this critical juncture, and, in particular, and to… [urge officials] to increase global funding dedicated to fighting the HIV and AIDS epidemic, and to request that some of the funds be allocated to the support of faith-based organizations engaged in public education about HIV and AIDS and addressing the stigma and discrimination that continue to inhibit effective responses to the disease."
