ELECTION '98

Contact: media@aidsaction.org or call: 202-986-1300

Washington, D.C. -- With sex scandals deeply woven into the '98 elections, AIDS Action thought it might be time for the candidates to really start talking about sex - sex education, that is. As election season hits fever pitch, AIDS Action faxed surveys this week to all House and Senate candidates asking them one simple question: "If elected, will you support significant increases in HIV prevention education for FY2000?"

Although Congress just passed record AIDS funding for Fiscal Year 1999 that will support life-prolonging care and research for people living with HIV/AIDS, prevention funding remains woefully inadequate. At the same time infection rates are increasing, especially among young people, national HIV prevention is stagnant and no bold new initiatives have been proposed by the Clinton Administration or Congress.

"With Washington spending countless hours on sex and scandal this year, we hope that candidates can spend two minutes to consider sex education that saves lives," said Daniel Zingale, AIDS Action's executive director. "Just as our fifteen-year investment in AIDS care and research is paying off, our divestment from HIV prevention is creating a new epidemic for a new generation of Americans."

AIDS Action is distributing the survey to ensure that candidates for Congress remember the critical need to protect young people from HIV infection. Half of the 40,000 new infections every year are among young people and one recent study indicated that only 10% of America's youth even think they're at risk. AIDS Action will post survey results on our website at www.aidsaction.org beginning October 28, 1998.

"The American people want to pull the lever for those who push for saving the lives of our kids," added Zingale. "This survey gives voters the chance to know whether the 106th Congress will be about saving lives or saving the status quo."

The spending package passed by Congress earlier this week brings total prevention funding in FY99 to $657.8 million, $32.9 million more than FY98 and about $25 million more than what President Clinton requested. While this increase falls far short of what's necessary for a reinvigorated HIV prevention effort, it nonetheless sends a strong message for better prevention funding in the FY2000 budget.

"This year, the President and Congress reinvented AIDS spending to better meet the needs of increasing numbers of people living with HIV and AIDS. Next year, we must adapt to meet the needs of those at risk for infection," added Zingale.

---

AIDS ACTION 1998 CANDIDATE SURVEY

Dear Candidate:

We know voters are concerned about the sex scandal in Washington, D.C. as well as the amount of time Congress is spending on it. As the national voice on AIDS, we're concerned that neither party is spending enough time talking about sex in the context of fighting a new HIV epidemic among a new generation of young people.

While strong bipartisan support in Congress and from the Clinton Administration just helped win record AIDS treatment and research funding for Fiscal Year 1999, prevention funding remains woefully inadequate. While our fifteen-year investment in AIDS has paid off through new drugs and lower death rates, our divestment from prevention is resulting in increased infection rates.

For FY2000, we hope every member of the 106th Congress will support significant increases in prevention funding to help stop HIV infection.

Consider the facts:

• Every hour in America, two young people become newly infected with HIV

• Half of the 40,000 new HIV infections every year are among people under 25.

• Only 10% of young people even think they are at risk for HIV infection.

• Most newly sexually-active young people couldn't even read when former Surgeon General Koop mailed HIV/AIDS prevention information to every American household in 1988.

• During the same two-year period that HIV infection rates have increased, federal prevention funding has been stagnant and no ambitious prevention initiatives have been proposed.

Please fax this survey back to AIDS Action at 202-986-1345 no later than October 28, 1998. Thank you for your time and attention to this important matter.

Sincerely,
Daniel Zingale
Executive Director

IF ELECTED, WILL YOU SUPPORT SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN HIV PREVENTION EDUCATION FOR FY2000?

YES_____ NO______
CANDIDATE SIGNATURE______________________________
CANDIDATE NAME______________________________________________________

OFFICE SEEKING _____________________STATE__________ DISTRICT_________