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Congress passed the Budget Control Act in August, creating a 12-member bipartisan "super committee" tasked with developing a proposal to reduce the federal deficit by $1.2 to $1.5 trillion over the next ten years. The 12 members of the super committee are:
Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), co-chair
Senator John Kerry (D-MA)
Senator Max Baucus (D-MT)
Senator John Kyl (R-AZ)
Senator Pat Toomey (R-PA)
Senator Rob Portman (R-OH)
Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R, TX-5th), co-chair
Rep. Dave Camp (R, MI-4th)
Rep. Fred Upton (R, MI-6th)
Rep. James Clyburn (D, SC-6th)
Rep. Xavier Becerra (D, CA-31st)
Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D, MD-8th)
This super committee has authority to recommend policy changes to reduce spending, which could mean major cuts to programs that are important to people living with HIV and AIDS-including the Ryan White Program, Medicaid and Medicare-as well as other programs that support AIDS research, HIV prevention and testing, and care and support services (approaches our community opposes). The super committee can also recommend that the federal government raise revenue as a way to help reduce the deficit (an approach our community supports).
Between now and October 14, all members of Congress can make recommendations to the 12 members of the deficit reduction super committee about how to reduce the federal deficit. It is important that your members of Congress hear from YOU about the HIV community's priorities.
The super committee must make a proposal to Congress by November 23. If it doesn't, there will be automatic cuts to programs in all federal agencies, which could seriously harm programs and services for people with HIV and AIDS. (Or, if the committee's proposal doesn't cut at least $1.2 trillion, automatic cuts will make up the difference.) If automatic cuts are triggered, certain "entitlement" programs for poor and low income individuals and families, such as Medicaid, will not be affected.
HOW TO HELP:
1. Call or email your U.S. Representative and two U.S. Senators by October 13. Urge them to support the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program and the HIV community's larger priorities when they talk to the super committee about ways to reduce the federal deficit. If one of your Senators or your Representative is a member of the super committee, your call is especially important!
You can be connected to your member of Congress by calling the Capitol Switchboard, 202-224-3121 or look them up at: http://www.congress.org/congressorg/directory/congdir.tt
Message
"I am a constituent, and I am calling to ask the Senator/Representative to support the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program and the HIV community's priorities throughout the deficit reduction process. These are our top priorities:
1. No cuts to the Ryan White Program in the deficit reduction packet
2. Deficit reduction must be fair and balanced, and must include raising revenues.
3. Any approach to deficit reduction must protect vulnerable populations and maintain the federal commitment to the fight against HIV/AIDS by funding prevention, care and treatment, research, housing and support services.
4. It is essential to preserve the federal commitment to the Medicaid and Medicare programs.
5. We oppose deficit reduction strategies that would jeopardize health care reforms already underway.
2. Share this ACTION ALERT with everyone you know.
Thank you in advance for your support. Together we can make a difference!
The Friends of AIDS Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.
TOGETHER WE REMAIN STRONG!
