For Immediate Release

Media Contact: Justin Burke - 213.201.1525

EMAIL:jburke@apla.org

AIDS PROJECT LOS ANGELES ALARMED BY PRESIDENT BUSH’S DOMESTIC HIV/AIDS BUDGET PROPOSAL

Los Angeles, CA February 5, 2002 - AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA) reacted with alarm to the proposed spending on HIV/AIDS programs in President Bush’s proposed FY 2003 budget. While providing increases in global HIV/AIDS spending and research funding, the President’s budget flat-funded the Ryan White CARE Act programs for the second straight year and increased funding of abstinence-only prevention efforts.

“I don’t know which is falling faster, revenues or expectations,” said APLA Government Affairs Director Daniel Montoya. “While President Bush is demonstrating leadership in the war on terrorism and is managing constraints caused by the recession and added homeland security spending, he must also focus on domestic issues including the national HIV/AIDS epidemic which has killed nearly 500,000 Americans since 1981,”

Montoya added, “Though the President’s budget does increase spending on global HIV/AIDS efforts and research, there is a complete lack of support for the vital care and treatment needs of people infected or affected by HIV/AIDS in the United States.”

Yesterday’s budget announcement is only the latest in a string of disappointments from the Bush Administration. “Over the past four months, President Bush designated conservative Tom Coburn as Co-Chair of the President’s Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS (PACHA), appointed abstinence-only advocate Patricia Funderburk Ware as Executive Director of PACHA and flat-funded the Ryan White CARE Act, the most important component of our nation’s response to the domestic HIV/AIDS epidemic,” added Montoya.

AIDS Project Los Angeles advocates on local, state, and national levels for fair and effective HIV and AIDS policy. APLA provides direct services each year to more than 10,000 men, women and children living with HIV and AIDS in Los Angeles County. Services include a food bank, professional dental care, housing assistance, child care, transportation, mental health counseling, case management, home health care and Adult and Child Buddy support. APLA also provides extensive treatment and prevention education.