Letter to Congress urging support of FY26 HIV program funding
The Honorable Shelley Moore Capito
Chair
Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services,
Education, and Related Agencies
Committee on Appropriations
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
The Honorable Tammy Baldwin
Ranking Member
Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services,
Education, and Related Agencies
Committee on Appropriations
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
The Honorable Robert Aderholt
Chairman
Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services,
Education, and Related Agencies
Committee on Appropriations
United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
The Honorable Rosa DeLauro
Ranking Member
Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services,
Education, and Related Agencies
Committee on Appropriations
United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Chair Capito, Ranking Member Baldwin, Chairman Aderholt, and Ranking Member DeLauro:
As Congress finalizes the Labor-HHS appropriations bill for FY26, the HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute urges you to maintain current funding for domestic HIV prevention and treatment programs as contained in the Senate bill (S. 2587) and in the accompanying report (S. Rept. 119-55).
The bi-partisan Senate bill maintains critical funding for existing HIV testing, prevention, and surveillance programs at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as for HIV treatment through the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Care and Treatment Program. It also maintains funding for the community health center PrEP program administered by the Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA).
The Senate bill stands in stark contrast to the House Labor-HHS appropriations bill which includes $1.7 billion in cuts to domestic HIV programs. Specifically, it eliminates all HIV prevention funding, the Ending the HIV Epidemic initiative, and cuts 20 percent ($525 million) of the Ryan White Program.
Last month, HRSA released new data, showing that a record-breaking 91.4 percent of patients receiving HIV medical care through the Ryan White Program were virally suppressed, significantly exceeding the national viral suppression rate. Increasing the viral suppression rate among the population living with HIV, along with implementing effective prevention programs, are proven ways to make significant progress in ending HIV.
State and local health departments, clinics, and community-based organizations across the country depend heavily on federal funding and policy leadership to conduct the necessary surveillance, prevention and treatment activities for HIV, viral hepatitis and other infectious diseases. Congress must continue to commit reasonable, timely and appropriate appropriations for programs designed to end these epidemics.
We thank you for your bipartisan leadership in supporting domestic HIV prevention and treatment programs, as well as the prevention infrastructure for viral hepatitis. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out via phone at (202) 462-3042 or email at cschmid@hivhep.org.
Sincerely,
Carl E. Schmid II
Executive Director