Serrano Opens 111th Congress with Bill to Lift the Federal Syringe Exchange Ban

Urge Your US Representative to Co-Sponsor HR 179, the Community AIDS and Hepatitis Prevention Act of 2009

In the bid to have the issue out in front with an early introduction, Representative Jose Serrano has re-introduced HR 179, Community AIDS and Hepatitis Prevention (CAHP) Act of 2009 in the 111th Congress. HR 179, introduced on January 6 with 28 original co-sponsors in the House, would eliminate all laws which prevent federal funding from being used by state and local jurisdictions for syringe exchange.

Now we need to find as many additional co-sponsors as possible for this legislation. Please send an email today urging your Representative to co-sponsor the CAHP Act of 2009, and encourage your friends, families and networks to do the same. Through the webform below, your letter will automatically be directed to your member of Congress. You can either send the pre-written letter provided, amend it, or write your own. If your Representative already has co-sponsored, please write a note of appreciation.

H. R. 179- To permit the use of Federal funds for syringe exchange programs for purposes of reducing the transmission of bloodborne pathogens, including HIV and viral hepatitis. (To see the full text go here.)

Original cosponsors are: Mr. SERRANO (for himself), Mr. ABERCROMBIE, Mr. BERMAN, Mr. CAPUANO, Ms. CHRISTENSEN, Mr. DELAHUNT, Mr. FARR, Mr. FATTAH, Mr. FILNER, Mr. GRIJALVA, Mr. HARE, Mr. HINCHEY, Mr. JACKSON of Illinois, Mr. KUCINICH, Ms. LEE, Ms. MALONEY, Ms. MCCOLLUM of Minnesota, Mr. MCDERMOTT, Mr. MORAN of Virginia, Mr. NADLER, Ms. NORTON, MR. PAUL, Mr. RANGEL, Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN, Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Mr. TOWNS, Ms. WATERS, Mr. WAXMAN, and Ms. WOOLSEY)

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November 22, 2009

Subject:

Dear Representative

I am writing to urge you to help remove the federal ban on needle exchange funding, and thereby support a proven health measure for curbing the spread of HIV, viral hepatitis, and increasing access to medical services and drug treatment. Since 1989, Congress has allowed the annual enacting of this ban that prohibits states and local jurisdictions from utilizing any federal dollars for needle exchange programs. Representative Jose Serrano has introduced the Community AIDS and Hepatitis Prevention (CAHP) Act of 2009. The CAHP Act will remove legal barriers to federal funding and allow local communities to make the choice of spending federal funds on syringe exchange programs. As your constituent, I urge you to co-sponsor this life-saving legislation. According to data from the National Institutes on Drug Abuse, injection drug use accounts for more than one-third (36 percent) of the estimated 59,000 annual new cases of AIDS in the United States. In the African American community the impact of the federal ban is mind-numbing as up to 42 percent of males and 51 percent of females infected with AIDS is due to the proliferation of shared needles among infected injection drug users. Rigorous scientific research has proven clearly that improved access to sterile syringes through needle exchange programs reduces the transmission of HIV and hepatitis C, without increasing drug use. Needle exchange is widely accepted as part of the AIDS prevention landscape. Yet, the ban on federal funding has resulted in too few programs, too few hours and too few services, creating a dependence on limited private philanthropy. This political obstacle severely constrains one of the most effective strategies for preventing HIV transmission in adults. Syringe exchange, also known as needle exchange programs are a proven and effective means of stemming the spread of HIV and other blood-borne illnesses. Furthermore, it has been shown through accepted scientific research that needle exchange programs do not increase or encourage drug use. Needle exchange may be the first opportunity for some people to be exposed to any type of health care intervention and provides an avenue of education for risk reduction. It also increases the opportunity to engage individuals in preparation for drug treatment as they reduce their harm related to drugs and paraphernalia use. These programs not only decrease transmission of HIV, hepatitis, and other blood borne illnesses, but also increase safe injecting practices, entrance into drug treatment programs, and safe disposal of used syringes. Removing the needle exchange federal funding ban is a critical step in advancing a national AIDS policy that places saving lives above politics. It provides much-needed resources and access to services for a key at-risk population, and reduces their likelihood of contracting and spreading blood borne diseases. Please show compassion and fiscal responsibility by co-sponsoring the Community AIDS and Hepatitis Prevention Act of 2009. Sincerely,
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