``People of Color Advocacy Day'' Focuses on HIV/AIDS Legislation; The National Minority AIDS Council Provides Opportunity For HIV/AIDS Service Organizations to Inform and Educate Elected Officials about Growing Epidemic in Communities of Color.

Business Editors/Assignment Desks/Health/Medical Writers

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 8, 2003

The HIV/AIDS epidemic continues to be one of the chief health crises in communities of color, among African Americans, Hispanics, Asian Pacific Islanders and Native Americans, who account for the majority of people living with HIV and AIDS in the United States and its territories. Research studies and current morbidity and mortality data, however, indicate that large numbers of people with HIV infection in communities of color still do not have sustained access to high quality HIV prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care.

The National Minority AIDS Council (NMAC), the largest national organization dedicated to addressing the challenges of HIV/AIDS in minority communities, will host "Our Place at The Table," a people of color national advocacy day in Washington, D.C. on September 9 - 10, 2003. This event is an opportunity to see the new faces of HIV/AIDS and to hear compelling stories. For example, attendees will meet with key members of Congress: Representative Ralph Regula (R-OH), chairman of the House Appropriations sub-committee; Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA), chair of the Senate Appropriations sub-committee,; and Senator Robert Byrd (D-WV), ranking member on the Appropriations sub-committee.

"The disproportionate HIV infection rate among people of color is devastating many of our nation's communities," said Paul Kawata, executive director for NMAC. "Like many other public health concerns, the expansion of HIV infection and AIDS in the U.S. today is, to a great extent, associated with poverty, substance use and lack of access to quality health care, all familiar problems within low-income communities of color. 'Our Place at the Table' will provide our legislators with critical information about the impact of this disease and the need for increased funding to support the federal and state HIV/AIDS programs."

The overall goals of the event will be to:

-- Give participants the knowledge, skills and understanding to

meet and converse with their Congressional representatives and

influence national HIV policy and program funding;

-- Increase the visibility of participants in the national

HIV/AIDS debate and related policy decision-making process;

-- Provide the opportunity to speak with and educate their

Members of Congress and staff;

-- Educate Congress about the ongoing disparities in morbidity,

mortality, and health outcomes experienced by people of color;

and

-- Advocate for federal program funding that is responsive to the

diverse needs of high-risk populations affected by and living

with HIV/AIDS.

These goals will be established through a partnership among the National Minority AIDS Council, Asian Pacific Islander American Health Forum, Balm in Gilead, Latino Commission on AIDS, National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS, and National Native American AIDS Prevention Center.

Schedule of Events

Activities are scheduled to take place from September 9 through September 10, 2003.

9/9/03 Tuesday:     Advocacy training session
                    9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
                    Washington Hilton Hotel, Washington, D.C.

9/10/03 Wednesday:  Visit Members of Congress and Committee staff
                    All Day
                    Capitol Hill

                    Evening Congressional Reception
                    The Chairs and the Health leadership from the
                    following congressional caucuses have been
                    invited: Congressional Black Caucus, Hispanic
                    Caucus, Native American Caucus and the Asian
                    Pacific Islander Caucus.
                    5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
                    Senate Dirksen Office Building, Rm 628
                    (GREAT PHOTO AND MEDIA OPPORTUNITY)

Legislative Background:

The House and the Senate have marked up their respective Labor, Health and Human Services and Education (HHS) Appropriations Bills. The House mark-up is $1,247.4 million and the Senate figure is $1,239.4 million. The President's request to Congress for HIV/AIDS federally funded programs is $1,281 million.

The federal programs that NMAC and other national AIDS service organizations are concerned about include:

-- The Minority HIV/AIDS Initiative (MAI) provides supplemental

funds to community and faith-based organizations, research

institutions, minority-serving colleges and universities,

health care organizations, state and local health departments,

and correctional institutions.

Both the House and the Senate figures have flat-funded this program for FY 2004 at $403 million. NMAC supports the national network of AIDS service organizations' recommendation for MAI at $610 million.

-- AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP), Title II of the Ryan

White Care Act, provides life-saving HIV treatment to

low-income, uninsured individuals living with HIV/AIDS in all

50 states and territories.

Despite the fact that the Senate's version at $753 million exceeds the President's request, there still exists a tremendous gap between the current proposed funding for ADAP and the disproportionate unmet need among communities of color. Similarly, NMAC supports the national network of AIDS service organizations' recommendation for ADAP at $994 million.

-- Center for Disease Control and Prevention's New Initiative:

New Strategies for a Changing Epidemic

NMAC is supportive of the initiative's general goals, however we are concerned that the shift in emphasis from

preventing new infections to testing and treatment for HIV positives leaves the back door open for increases in infection rate, particularly among teenagers, which represents a growing at-risk population.

About National Minority AIDS Council

The National Minority AIDS Council (NMAC) was founded in 1987 to develop leadership within communities of color to address challenges of HIV/AIDS. NMAC has responded to the needs of communities of color by developing programs aimed at enhancing the skills necessary to confront this health crisis, including a public policy education program, national and regional training conferences, a treatment and research program and numerous publications. Today, NMAC is an association of AIDS service organizations providing valuable information to community-based organizations, hospitals, clinics and other groups assisting individuals and families affected by the AIDS epidemic.