May 25, 2006

Dear Chairman Regula and Ranking Member Obey:

As you prepare the FY 2007 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies appropriations bill, we are writing to urge you support the President's request for global HIV/AIDS funding, including at least $100 million that will be part of the U.S. contribution to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. In a tight budget year, we hope you will provide the funding needed for these vital programs.

The U.S. is leading the world in the fight against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis (TB) and malaria. Together, these three diseases kill 6 million people each year. What makes this tragedy even more senseless is that all three diseases are treatable and preventable, and in the case of TB and malaria, curable. For just $6 we can purchase a bed net to protect a pregnant woman and her children from malaria and for just $10 a person can be cured of TB.

Through your leadership, the Labor-HHS appropriations bill has strongly supported global HIV/AIDS programs in the past. For FY 2007, the President has requested nearly $600 million for global HIV/AIDS programs through the Centers for Disease Control and the National Institutes of Health for programs in the field and research. This also includes $100 million for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Since its inception in 2002, the Global Fund has committed $5.2 billion to more than 350 grants in 131 countries around the world. The United States played a leading role in the Global Fund's creation and has historically provided 1/3 of the Fund's financing to date, while leveraging donations from other donors on a two-to-one basis.

The $100 million contribution to the Global Fund through the Labor-HHS appropriations bill will go a long way towards preventing the 16,000 deaths that occur each day due to AIDS, TB and malaria. With $100 million, the Global Fund could finance grants to achieve the following results:

• Distribute 630,000 insecticide-treated bed nets to fight malaria
• Purchase 150,000 treatments for malaria
• Provide 80,000 highly-effective DOTS treatments for TB
• Supply 370,000 people with HIV tests
• Provide 11,000 people with life-saving ARVs to treat AIDS.

Thank you for your longstanding leadership in improving the health and well being of people around the world. We hope that you will be able to maintain the President's request for the Global Fund, and ensure that America continues to expand upon its proud legacy as the world's leader in fighting these devastating diseases.

Sincerely,