SUPPORTING RESOURCES TO FIGHT AIDS IN THE UNITED STATES AND
AROUND THE WORLD
WHEREAS,
in December 2003, UNAIDS reported that in 2003 HIV/AIDS killed more than 3
million and infected an estimated 5 million people worldwide, bringing the
number of people living with HIV/AIDS around the world to 40 million; and
WHEREAS,
the global impact of HIV/AIDS is far more devastating than ever imagined,
decreasing life expectancy, increasing child mortality, orphaning millions,
wiping out development gains, and threatening to undermine national security in
highly-affected societies; and
WHEREAS,
in the United States, though there have been recent declines in AIDS-related
deaths as a result of the widespread use of HIV medications, the HIV/AIDS
epidemic remains an enormous health emergency — at the end of 2002, 384,906
people were known to be living with AIDS in the U.S. and its territories and
more than 40,000 Americans become newly infected with HIV each year; and
WHEREAS,
83 percent of persons with AIDS in the United States live in our cities and
rely on public health care and social service systems for care and treatment,
making funding for prevention, early diagnosis, treatment and supportive
services critical investments in our health care system; and
WHEREAS,
the Ryan White CARE Act, the nation’s largest discretionary investment in the
care of people with HIV/AIDS, has dramatically improved the quality of life of
people living with HIV-disease and their families, reduced use of costly
inpatient care, and increased access to care for low-income, under-served
populations, including people of color; and
WHEREAS,
in order to reduce new infections, ensure quality health care, and prolong the
lives of persons living with HIV/AIDS, it is essential that sufficient
resources continue to be allocated to cities through the Ryan White CARE Act
(including Title I) and other key HIV/AIDS programs to address new challenges
in the HIV/AIDS epidemic and maintain existing continuum of life-saving care
and prevention services,
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that The U. S. Conference of Mayors urges the
Administration and Congress to increase funding for critical domestic HIV/AIDS
programs by allocating an additional $574.34 million to the Ryan White CARE
Act, including $86.96 million for Title I, $319.07 million for Title II AIDS
Drug Assistance Program, and $27.3 million for Title III; an additional $206.7
million for the Minority AIDS Initiative; an additional $367.1 million to the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for domestic prevention programs; an
additional $2.8 billion for research to the National Institutes of Health; and
an additional $55.2 million for the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS
program; and
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Conference of Mayors commends the
Administration for its commitment to combat HIV/AIDS abroad and urges the
allocation of additional resources to stem the spread of this global pandemic.
©2004 U.S. Conference of Mayors 