The White House Office of National AIDS Policy (ONAP) is charged with developing the first-ever National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS) for the US. ONAP has been conducting town hall meetings around the country and soliciting comments through its website to inform the NHAS.

The online comment period was originally scheduled to end Monday, November 16th. ONAP has extended this deadline to Monday, November 23rd to ensure that many voices are heard in this process.

Take this opportunity to affect our country's first-ever coordinated, outcomes-based and community-informed national strategy to combat HIV/AIDS.

Each month AIDS Action sends out "eUpdate", an enewsletter with information on upcoming events, HIV/AIDS policy updates, important health news, and more. The November 2009 edition of eUpdate is now available online. Click here to check it out!

AIDS Action's President & CEO Rebecca Haag spoke with the New York Times about the possibility of allowing the use of federal funds for syringe exchange programs, while a new rule is being considered to ban the use of those funds for exchanges located within 1,000 feet of a "school, park, library, college, video arcade or any place children might gather," as the NYTimes puts it. 

In effect, this rule would continue the existing funding ban in many hard hit urban locations, where it is difficult to locate space beyond 1,000 feet of "any place children might gather."

Read the article here, and see below for ways to take action to repeal the funding ban in full.

On Tuesday, October 27, 2009, AIDS Action Committee staff testified at the Statehouse in support of Senate Bill 1843, the "Good Samaritan Bill".

The bill protects overdose witnesses and overdose victims from being charged or prosecuted for possession of a controlled substance when calling 911 to seek medical help during an overdose.

In MA, nearly 2 people die each day from an opioid overdose. Many overdose witnesses hesitate to call 911 for fear of police involvement in a medical emergency. The "Good Samaritan Bill" will save lives, balancing the needs of local law enforcement with our commitment to keeping people alive regardless of their circumstances. AAC supports this bill because we see the benefit of second chances in our work with clients and at-risk individuals each and every day. 

SB 1843 is endorsed by the MA Department of Public Health. Click here to access DPH information about the bill, as well as their call to action. 

On Friday, October 30, 2009, President Obama signed the Ryan White Reauthorization Act. The House and Senate passed identical versions of the bill over the last several weeks, including a 5% across-the-board increase in funding.

This is a major victory for the HIV/AIDS community and public health advocates. Ryan White programs provides essential medical and support services to hundreds of thousands of individuals each year.

At the signing ceremony, the President also formally announced the end of the 22-year-old HIV travel ban, which restricts travel and immigration into the United States for HIV+ people. The removal of the ban goes into effect in January 2010 after a customary waiting period.

As the National HIV/AIDS Strategy process continues with a series of community meetings around the country, we have a critical and immediate opportunity to advance HIV prevention efforts today.

Congress is considering whether to remove the ban on federal funding for syringe exchange programs (SEPs). This is the best opportunity we've had to eliminate the ban in over a decade, and we need President Obama to voice his support to Congressional leadership.

AIDS Action Council, the national advocacy group, has issued an action alert with information on how to contact the President on this issue. Click here to get started.
 

Harbor to the Bay, an AIDS benefit bike ride, took place September 12, 2009. Since 2003, Harbor to the Bay has raised over $1.5 million for its beneficiary organizations, including AAC. The ride’s 2009 goal is $500,000. On ride day nearly half had been raised. Donations were accepted through November 20, 2009. Final fundraising numbers will be announced and checks presented at a World AIDS Day event at Club Cafe on December 1, 2009. Click here for more details.