Washington, DC – “We the undersigned are cautiously encouraged by the President’s call during his State of the Union remarks to end HIV transmissions by 2030; however, this goal is achievable only with hard work and the appropriate investment of resources. We stand ready to work with him and his administration if they are serious. But to date, this administration’s actions speak louder than words and have moved us in the wrong direction. Reaching the goal of no new transmissions by 2030 will require federal policies that value the rights and dignity of vulnerable communities, including LGBTQ people, immigrants, and people of color. It will also require additional, robust funding for the entire federal HIV prevention and care portfolio as well as significantly expanded and equitable access to health care.

“To date, the President’s attacks on the Affordable Care Act and proposed cuts to non-defense discretionary spending have threatened to undermine our efforts to end the HIV epidemic. Even recent proposed changes to Medicare Part D are problematic as they would remove most of the protections that ensure people living with serious conditions, like HIV, can access the treatments they need. Changes like this, alongside budget cuts and other attacks on health care, roll back our progress in the response to HIV and threaten to reignite the domestic epidemic as opposed to positioning us to end it.

“We know what it will take to end the HIV epidemic in the U.S. by 2030, and we will be looking to the White House and this administration to enact good-faith policy reforms that would support that effort. We urge Secretary Azar and President Trump to honor their new commitment by addressing these issues. They can start by withdrawing the proposed rule change to Part D’s protected classes. But the real proof will be in the President’s FY 2020 budget request next month.”

  • Jesse Milan, Jr., CEO, AIDS United
  • Kathie Hiers, CEO, AIDS Alabama
  • John Carlo, MD, CEO, Prism Health North Texas
  • Carolyn McAllaster, Director, Southern HIV/AIDS Strategy Initiative
  • Nic Carlisle, Executive Director, Southern AIDS Coalition
  • Raniyah Copeland, CEO, Black AIDS Institute
  • Joe Hollendoner, CEO, San Francisco AIDS Foundation
  • Craig Thompson, CEO, APLA Health
  • William J. Hardy, President and CEO, Equitas Health
  • Guillermo Chacon, President, Latino Commission on AIDS
  • Kelsey Louie, CEO, Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC)
  • John Peller, President and CEO, AIDS Foundation of Chicago
  • Mary Elizabeth Marr, CEO, Thrive Alabama
  • John Gatto, Senior Vice President, Justice Resource Institute
  • David Ernesto Munar, President and CEO, Howard Brown Health
  • Patricia Nalls, Executive Director, The Women’s Collective
  • Janetta Johnson, Executive Director, TGI Justice Project
  • Katy Caldwell, CEO, Legacy Community Health
  • Doug Wirth, President and CEO, Amida Care
  • Tyler TerMeer, Executive Director, Cascade AIDS Project
  • Noel Twilbeck, CEO, CrescentCare
  • Daniel Ledo, Chairman, Board of Directors, Chattanooga C.A.R.E.S.