House Vote On VA/HUD Rescheduled
for Next Tuesday, June 25

The House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on the FY '97 VA/HUD appropriations bill next Tuesday, June 25th. (Yes, AIDS Action informed you last week that the vote would take place this Tuesday, however, the House is still dealing with other Appropriations bills and the vote on VA/HUD has been delayed.)

Remember, HOPWA was flat-funded at $171 million for FY 97 when the full House Appropriations Committee voted on the VA/HUD bill. (See Alert June 14, 1996)

As reported last week, there is a bipartisan initiative underway to increase FY '97 funding for HOPWA by amending the bill when it reaches the House floor. This effort is being led by Representative Shays (R-CT), together with Representatives Studds (D-MA), Schumer (D-NY), Flanagan (R-IL), Gunderson (R-WI), Kennelly (D-CT), Pelosi (D-CA), Nadler (D-NY), Morella (R-MD), Bilbray (R-CA), and Lowey (D-NY).

So far, your calls to members in the House have been effective! Now we have more time for calls to your members supporting the floor amendments to be offered by Representative Shays (R-CT) and others. We need to continue generating support to win this battle on the House floor! Ask your members to support the Shays amendment to increase HOPWA funding by $15 million for FY 97.

Call and Fax Your Representatives Today!

All members of the House can be reached through the Capitol Switchboard at 202-225-3121. E-mail addresses for your Representatives can be found posted in HandsNet at Resources/Congressional Contacts.

Ask your members specifically:

• Will you support a $15 million increase for HOPWA for FY 97?
  
  
• Let your member know if your state or EMA receives HOPWA funding (AIDS Action can provide specific state or EMA funding levels).
  
  
• Urge them to support the Shays (R-CT) amendment to increase HOPWA funding when the VA/HUD bill goes to the House floor.
  
  
• Tell them while a $15 million increase is far below what is actually needed, HUD estimates that this additional money would at least allow us to provide housing and services to an additional 4,035 individuals and families living with HIV/AIDS. Let them know what flat-funding HOPWA in FY '97 will mean in real terms in your own community.
  
  
• Without an increase in FY '97 funding for this critical program, more and more people living with HIV/AIDS will be living -- and dying -- on the streets of your home towns.

Please call Tracy (ext. 3053) or Anthony (ext. 3067) at AIDS Action with your member's response.

Founded in 1984, AIDS Action Council is the only national organization devoted solely to advocating on federal AIDS policy, legislation and funding. AIDS Action Council represents more than 1,400 community-based AIDS service organizations throughout the United States.

José Zuniga
AIDS Action Council
1875 Connecticut Avenue NW #700
Washington DC 20009
202-986-1300, Ext. 3042
202-986-1345 (fax)
202-332-9614 (tty)
E-Mail: aidsaction@aidsaction.org

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