Exchange We Can Believe In

Panelists at Congressional Syringe Exchange briefing

While the science of syringe exchange is indisputable, the politics are a little trickier. At a standing-room-only Congressional briefing Wednesday, advocates tried to convince more than 50 Congressional staffers that the time has come to end the federal ban on funding for syringe exchange programs.

The briefing, attended by about 100 people, was sponsored by the National Syringe Exchange Policy Coalition and organized by Representative José Serrano's office.

Political Ramifications

"We have a lot of members we need to talk to -- conservative Democrats, moderate Republicans and even conservative Republicans," AIDS Action Political Director Bill McColl told the Update. "Lifting the ban is do-able and do-able this year, but we have a lot of work cut out for us."

The first step to lifting the ban technically doesn't even require a Congressional vote. Every year since 1988, Congress has included a stipulation in its Health and Human Services appropriations bill to prohibit any funding for syringe exchange. All Congress would have to do is remove that one little line, and states and local jurisdictions would be free to use federal dollars to promote syringe exchange, which has been proven to halt the spread of HIV and hepatitis C.

But of course, it's not that simple. Conservative legislators would likely to bring removing the language to a vote, so Congressional leadership wants to make sure there is enough support to override them. House of Representatives Appropriations Chair David Obey doesn't think he has the votes.

"He is trying to protect us from a bad vote, but we think we've got the votes and want to convince him," McColl said. He believes that the lifting of the federal ban on the District of Columbia spending its own dollars on syringe exchange in 2007 is a sign that points in that direction.

Serrano also sponsored H.R. 179, the Community AIDS and Hepatitis Prevention Act, which would enshrine into law that "nothing shall prohibit the use of federal funds to establish or carry out a program of distributing sterile syringes to reduce the transmission of blood borne pathogens, including the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and viral hepatitis." The bill has 51 cosponsors.

President Obama has stated his support for lifting the ban on federal funding for syringe exchange.

Why Syringe Exchange Matters

"There are two major success stories in HIV prevention -- mother-to-child transmission and syringe exchange. The fact that we don't fully employ the second is akin to malpractice," said Harm Reduction Coalition Executive Director Allan Clear.

Clear spoke on the Wednesday panel with Gay Men's Health Crisis CEO Marjorie Hill, RAND Corporation Senior Scientist Ricky Blumenthal, Saint Ann's Corner of Harm Reduction Executive Director Joyce Rivera and New York State Department of Health Director of HIV Prevention Alma Candelas.

Nationally, there are more than 210 needle exchange programs in place in 36 states, and approximately half of the programs receive local or state funding. Many operate on a shoe-string budget. All programs provide other support services to their clients.

"We are the backbone in many of these communities to connecting people to care," Rivera said.

Most syringe exchange programs are situated along the East and West coasts. There are also exchanges in New Mexico and a few Midwest states. In some states, including Florida, there are no syringe exchange programs.

What You Can Do to Help

Contact your congressperson and tell him or her to sign on to H.R. 179! Use the Harm Reduction Coalition's handy-dandy e-mail form here.