Week ending: May 31, 2019
By: Sable K. Nelson
UPDATE: Federal Plan to End the HIV Epidemic
According to federal partners, the HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health is directing Fiscal Year 2019 resources from the Minority AIDS Fund to jumpstart key activities in select communities to ensure the future success of the Ending the HIV Epidemic plan.
$4.5 Million in Funding for 3 CDC Pilot Projects
Baltimore City, Maryland; DeKalb County, Georgia; and East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, met CDC-developed criteria and have been provided with a funding opportunity to apply for resources to pilot efforts in their local communities.
These foundational efforts will set the US on a path for rapid progress in reducing new HIV infections. The three pilot projects will provide important insight into the HIV prevention and treatment activities that are the most critical early contributors to reducing new HIV infections.
Findings will be shared with other states and communities to accelerate and support their efforts to implement the most effective prevention strategies locally.
Funding for the Identified 48 Counties, Washington, D.C., San Juan, Puerto Rico, and 7 States
Additionally, with support from the HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, CDC plans to release another funding opportunity in the coming weeks that will support the 57 identified first phase jurisdictions (48 counties, Washington, D.C., San Juan, Puerto Rico, as well as seven states) in the development of state and local Ending the Epidemic plans.
Podcast: KHN’s ‘What The Health?’ The State Of The Abortion Debate — A Deep Dive
For our 100th episode, Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Jen Haberkorn of the Los Angeles Times and Sandhya Ramen of CQ Roll Call join KHN’s Julie Rovner to take a deep dive into the abortion debate, discussing everything from the latest news to the history of the Supreme Court’s jurisprudence as well as how states are trying to further expand or restrict abortion rights and access. Also, Rovner interviews KHN’s Lauren Weber about the latest “Bill of the Month” installment. For more information, LISTEN.
What You Can Do
TAKE ACTION: It is very important that our elected officials hear from us to protect federal funding for HIV prevention and care. Speak truth to power by sharing your personal stories with your elected officials. It is vitally important to meet with your federal elected officials when they are at home. If we don’t support and advocate for HIV funding and programs, who will? Our movement cannot afford to stand on the sidelines. Your U.S. Senators and U.S. Representatives need to hear from you.
- Find your U.S. Senators: https://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
- Find your U.S. Representative: https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative
What NMAC is Doing About It
- NMAC remains vigilant in its advocacy to protect FY20 government funding and the existence of the social safety net.
- NMAC is working in coalition to defend the right of people living with HIV to serve in the US military.