Upholding Our Ethical, Moral, and Bipartisan Commitment to HIV/AIDS
"Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
These words from Jesus found in Matthew 6:21 resonate profoundly as we examine the current legislative actions on HIV/AIDS funding in the U.S. Congress. It is hard to imagine forty years into the epidemic that we’d be witnessing a systemic attack on numerous HIV-related programs, especially ones with proven track records of success. The House L-HHS Appropriations Bill (H.R. 5894), proposing a staggering $767 million in cuts to domestic HIV programs, starkly contradicts the values of compassion and faith professed by certain lawmakers. These cuts, detailed by the AIDS Budget and Appropriations Coalition (ABAC), threaten to dismantle decades of public health progress, disproportionately impacting marginalized communities, minorities, and the LGBTQIA+ community. The appropriations bill is only the tip of the iceberg.
The irony of these legislative actions is both profound and deeply troubling. Lawmakers, often vocal about their 'pro-life' stance, are endorsing policies that will cause significant harm to millions of Americans dependent on HIV services. This bill represents more than just fiscal adjustments; it's a direct attack on the services and supports afforded to people living with HIV (PLWH), reflecting a worldview that stigmatizes and punishes rather than supports and heals. This approach starkly betrays the bipartisan legacy of the HIV/AIDS fight, which brought together the ideological opposites of the late Senators Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Edward Kennedy (D-MA).
The bill's proposed eliminations include funding for the bipartisan Trump-era Ending the HIV Epidemic Initiative, the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, and the Community Health Centers Program. Alarmingly, it suggests completely eliminating Part F of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP), which supports critical components like Dental Programs and AIDS Education and Training Centers. Additionally, the bill proposes a 53% cut in the Minority HIV/AIDS Fund and the total elimination of Minority AIDS Initiative funding within the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
But the attack isn’t exclusive to domestic programs combating HIV/AIDS.
The stalemate over the reauthorization of the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), as highlighted in a recent POLITICO article, further exemplifies the moral failure of the Freedom Caucus – which is driving most of the vitroil behind these proposed cuts. Disputes over abortion and a blatantly bigoted reluctance to aid Africa have jeopardized the most successful global health initiatives of our time.
“I’m disappointed,” Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) told POLITICO. “Honestly, I was looking forward to marking up a five-year reauthorization, and now I’m in this abortion debate.” Additionally, he said, “a lot of the Freedom Caucus guys would not want to give aid to Africa.”
Jen Laws (he/him/his), President & CEO of the Community Access National Network (CANN), poignantly captures this duplicity in a tweet: “HIV is a bipartisan issue and always has been. May those who wish to insert their culture war politics onto this historical space enjoy their moral rot for as long as the spotlight lasts because the sense of power certainly won't.”
We stand at a critical crossroads, not merely facing a policy challenge but a profound moral crisis. The battle against HIV/AIDS reflects our societal values of empathy, compassion, and collective responsibility. The proposed cuts and the deadlock over PEPFAR reauthorization challenge the very foundations of equity and justice, calling for a decisive response to maintain the fragile progress made in HIV/AIDS care and prevention. These cuts are not distant policy changes; they are immediate threats to lives and well-being, demanding our urgent attention and action.
Critical Juncture
RWHAP and PEPFAR stand at a critical juncture, pivotal to the global and domestic response to HIV/AIDS. The Ryan White Program, a testament to America's commitment to combating HIV/AIDS, is under threat from the proposed House L-HHS Appropriations Bill (H.R. 5894), which includes significant funding cuts. Concurrently, PEPFAR, a global beacon in the fight against HIV/AIDS and the largest commitment by any nation to address a single disease, faces legislative hurdles that could impede its future effectiveness.
The Ryan White Program has been a cornerstone in achieving a 90% viral suppression rate among its clients, as reported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). PEPFAR, on the other hand, has been instrumental in saving 25 million lives and supporting over 5 million infants born HIV-free, providing antiretroviral treatment to over 20 million people across 55 countries. This program has played a crucial role in significantly reducing new HIV infections worldwide.
The potential funding cuts under H.R. 5894 pose a severe risk to the Ryan White Program's continued success in the United States, especially in light of the 12% decline in new HIV infections from 2017 to 2021. The reauthorization stalemate of PEPFAR underscores the moral failure of certain lawmakers, who, despite their 'pro-life' claims, are obstructing a program that has been a lifeline for millions globally.
Comprehensive Strategy is Key
The achievements made over the last four decades in the fight against HIV/AIDS underline the necessity of a comprehensive strategy. The increase in PrEP prescriptions in the United States and the high rate of viral suppression achieved through treatment as prevention exemplify the effectiveness of a holistic approach, encompassing treatment, prevention, care, and support services. It is crucial that policymakers and the public recognize the importance of these programs and advocate for their continued support, ensuring the progress in combating HIV/AIDS is not only maintained but also advanced. Time is of the essence to embrace and implement a comprehensive HIV/AIDS strategy that goes beyond mere treatment to encompass prevention, care, and support.
Challenging Extremism and Fostering Advocacy
The battle against H.R. 5894 transcends mere policy disagreements. It represents a stand against a form of political extremism that poses a grave threat to marginalized populations, including people living with HIV/AIDS. These proposed cuts, in stark contrast to the proclaimed pro-life stance of the very lawmakers pushing them, unveil a troubling hypocrisy reminiscent of the words of Jesus in Matthew 23:27-28: "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean."
Just as Jesus admonished the outwardly righteous but inwardly corrupt, these policies, under the guise of fiscal prudence, risk causing significant harm to the most vulnerable, particularly PLWH, minorities, and the LGBTQIA+ community. The stark contrast between the proclaimed values and the actual legislative actions of these lawmakers echoes the biblical warning against such duplicity. The time to stand against this political extremism is now. We cannot afford to be bystanders as these policies threaten to unravel decades of progress.
A Resounding Call to Action:
This critical juncture calls for a united, nonpartisan response from all who value public health, health equity, and human dignity. Health and human dignity are not political weapons to be wielded in service of talking points when lives hang in the balance. We urge individuals and organizations across the political spectrum to join the Southern AIDS Coalition in their efforts to push back against these cuts by signing their letter. Your voice and actions are crucial in shaping the future of HIV/AIDS policy and ensuring our continued progress towards Ending The Epidemic.
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Now is the time to reaffirm our bipartisan commitment to fighting HIV/AIDS. This battle is not just about preserving past achievements; it is about resolutely advancing our collective efforts against HIV/AIDS. Your involvement is not just beneficial; it is essential. By standing together, regardless of political affiliation, we can overcome these challenges and continue our journey towards a world free from HIV/AIDS. Act now, for this fight is about life, justice, and human dignity. Your voice and action are indispensable in this crucial hour.