1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

congress I am writing to urge you to reconsider any proposed cuts to HIV funding, particularly the funding allocated to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) under the Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) Initiative. As you are aware, despite significant advances in HIV treatment and prevention, the epidemic remains a pressing public health issue in our country. Every year, over 20,000 new HIV cases are reported in the U.S., and more than 1.2 million Americans are currently living with HIV or AIDS. While the infection rate has declined in recent years, the epidemic is far from over. Cutting funding to vital programs designed to combat this crisis would undermine the progress we have made and put the health of thousands at risk. The CDC plays a critical role in the fight against HIV. The funding allocated to the EHE Initiative enables the CDC to expand HIV testing, connect individuals to lifesaving treatment, and provide access to preventive tools such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). In 2021 alone, CDC-funded programs conducted over 1.7 million HIV tests, identifying thousands of cases early and helping prevent the further spread of the virus. By 2022, more than 1.2 million Americans were using PrEP and PEP, which are proven tools to dramatically reduce the transmission of HIV. These programs not only save lives but also reduce the financial burden on our healthcare system by preventing new infections and improving the quality of life for those living with HIV. PrEP, in particular, has proven to be one of the most effective methods of HIV prevention available, and cutting funding to expand access to this medication would be a tragic setback in our efforts to end the HIV epidemic. Furthermore, the funding supports efforts to strengthen our response to outbreaks, as well as ensuring that sexual health clinics have the resources necessary to provide comprehensive HIV prevention and treatment services. Sexual health clinics are often the first point of contact for those at higher risk of HIV, and the funding ensures they can offer not only HIV testing but also PrEP and treatment for other sexually transmitted infections. The importance of these programs cannot be overstated. The federal government’s continued investment in HIV prevention and treatment programs is essential in ensuring that we do not fall behind in the fight against HIV. Cutting these funds would put countless lives at risk and hinder our ability to bring an end to the HIV epidemic. I urge you to continue supporting this critical funding and to advocate for the protection of programs that save lives and prevent the further spread of HIV. We must remain steadfast in our commitment to ending the HIV epidemic and ensuring that every person, regardless of their background, has access to the care they need. Thank you for your time and attention to this important matter.