Title: Advocacy and Action Update
Author:
Section/SPIG: HIV/AIDS
Issue Date:
During this year's mid-year Leadership meeting at APHA headquarters in March, four of us went to Capitol Hill [otherwise known as "Hill Visits"] to visit a total of 12 Congressional offices. Three of us were "repeats" from last year [Susan Fulmer, our Section Chair; April Winningham, Section Secretary; and myself, Action Board Representative] and we had one new recruit this year - Scott Rhodes, Section Councilor.
During our visits we discussed APHA's three priority areas for the year: Access to Care; Elimination of Racial/Ethnic Disparities; and Public Health Infrastructure, as well as several other key HIV-related issues. The visits provided each of us with the opportunity to voice specific HIV priorities depending on our interests and those of our elected officials. Between the four of us we covered a broad range of issues, such as the Early Treatment HIV Act, continued need for increased Ryan White CARE Act funding, the negative effects of abstinence-only education funding, health literacy, ADAP in Arkansas, AIDS funding in Wisconsin, HIV in older adults, and access to pharmaceuticals.
As April said, "I highly recommend this experience! It was much easier for me the second time around in that I was familiar with the process …[also, I suffered less from the "rock star" syndrome…]. Because it was easier, I'm more likely to do it again and again…." Scott, who was hesitant at first to step forward to join us, said, "It was an amazing opportunity and I loved it. I think that more activists and researchers need to step forward to dialogue and engage in a co-learning process for change."
So, with that said, the next time you are in Washington, D.C., please consider taking the time to visit the people you elected. APHA has been wonderful by setting up the appointments for us and preparing briefing packets. This year's Annual Meeting is in D.C., and APHA wants to set up visits for us while we're there. So stay tuned for more information on this great opportunity!
Think about joining APHA's legislative network to keep in touch with public health issues. Check out <www.capwiz.com/apha/home/> and JOIN NOW!