Top Action this Week: Final Senate Appropriations Request Push

2013 will be a challenging year for global poverty issues with mandated spending ceilings, so we'll need to work hard to ensure that cuts are not made to programs that matter most to those at the bottom of the socioeconomic ladder.
It's time to take serious action in the Senate. Though we'll be taking action on appropriations throughout the summer, it's important to act by specific dates outlined by the various appropriations sub-committees. The Foreign Operations Sub-Committee of Appropriations in the Senate has asked all senators to submit their official written input to them by this Friday, March 30, which means that Senate offices have set deadlines order to organize constituent input.

2-minute Action: Use our online action alert on 2013 appropriations to ask your senators to prioritize funding for programs that reach the poorest.

5-minute Action: Call the Congressional Switchboard ((202) 224-3121), ask for your senators' offices and leave the following message: "We need to prioritize foreign assistance programs that reach the poorest and make effective use of our investments. I would like the senator to write to the chair and ranking member of the foreign operations sub-committee of appropriations and ask them to include the following priorities for 2013 (choose 1 or 2):

• $1.65 billion for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria
• $125 million for the Global Partnership for Education
• $145 million for the Global Alliance for vaccines and Immunizations (GAVI)
• $650 million for bilateral TB
• $500 million for microfinance."

15-minute Action: Call the Congressional Switchboard ((202) 224-3121), ask for your senators' offices, ask to speak to the aide in charge of foreign policy. Make the same request as the five-minute action. Ask if the senator will take the action and wait for an answer. If you don't get the aide in person, leave a voicemail message.

Learn more about our appropriations requests on www.RESULTS.org.

March 2012 Action Guide

Please urge your Congressman to support one of the most effective ways to stop TB and combat diseases of poverty – The Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB & Malaria. Here’s an easy recipe for a powerful letter. 

Open: Start with a short self introduction and/or why you care.

Engage: (pick one)

·         One third of the world’s population is infected with TB.

·         Each year, there are 1.7 million TB-related deaths worldwide.

·         TB is a disease caused by germs that are spread from person to person through the air.

·         Each year, nearly 9 million people around the world become sick with TB.

·         The CDC reported over 11,000 cases of TB in the US last year with over 500 deaths.

Problem: (pick one)

·         Much of the arsenal of TB diagnostics and treatments is 50 years old.

·         TB is the leading killer of people who are HIV infected.

·         TB is the third leading cause of death among women of reproductive age worldwide.

·         Each year 1.7 million people die of TB.

·         Drug-resistant strains of TB can be 100 times more expensive to treat.

·         About 650,000 cases of drug-resistant TB were reported in the world in 2010.

Inform: (pick one)

·         Most TB can be cured with a full-course of drugs that cost as little as $20 per person.

·         Stop TB Partnership reported that 910,000 lives have been saved over 6 years simply because of collaboration between TB and HIV services.

·         The Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB & Malaria provided 7 million people with effective TB treatment.

·         The Global Fund extends TB education, diagnosis and treatment to millions of people in 140 countries.

Call for Action: (Your request for your representative)

Congressman Click HERE, will you contact the chair and ranking member of the Foreign Operations Subcommittee of Appropriations and request $1.65 billion for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria -- one of the most effective tools to combat TB?   I look forward to your answer.

Sign: Include your name and address


 



More Background Information

Statesman Op Ed on MDR-TB in Texas

Star-Telegram. Starke Op Ed

RESULTS TB Info Page

RESULTS Global Fund Info Page

Ft, Wayne MDR-TB News Coverage

State of Texas TB Information

CNN TB Pandemic Coverage

RESULTS Appropriations Info Page

Come hear UT scientist 

- a Game Changer on TB diagnostics -

What:

RESULTS Action Meeting

When:     

Tuesday 3/20/2012

6:45 PM - refreshments
7:00-8:00 PM - program

Where:    

Schmidt-Jones
Family Life Center
1300 Lavaca St
 Austin, TX 78701

Map link
Street parking free after 6 PM

Scientist to change the future of TB diagnostics
Andy Ellington -- UT Research Professor 

From the Austin American Statesman:
UT project gets Gates grant to find quick tuberculosis test
"Ellington, a professor of chemistry and biochemistry at the University of Texas, has been awarded $1.6 million from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to develop a test involving a small strip of paper embedded with bits of synthetic DNA in a kind of biological circuit board. If he and his research team are successful, a patient could spit onto the paper, and a change in the paper's color would indicate that the person has tuberculosis, including drug-resistant strains. No refrigeration would be needed."

After hearing Dr. Ellington, we'll give you an opportunity to take an action on the spot and YOU can make a difference, too.

The Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB & Malaria has treated over 8 million cases of TB since it was formed in 2002.  However, because of unfulfilled pledges, the Global Fund recently cancelled all new grants until 2014.  People living with TB cannot wait two years.  Come and learn how you can help donor countries live up to their promises.

Together we can stop TB!

RESULTS