Health GAP

Today: Urgent action needed to end the federal ban on syringe exchange funding

Tomorrow, the US House of Representatives is voting on an appropriations bill that, for the first time in nearly 20 years, allows federal funding of syringe exchange. This is a breakthrough moment, but we haven't won yet. Right-wing Representatives intent on furthering the culture war are planning to introduce harmful amendments that would reinstate the ban, and we need to defeat them!

Use the form below to email your Representative and tell them to vote for syringe exchange, and against any amendments that would limit access.

If you want to add a personal story at the top of the email, feel free! The more custom you make your letter, the more likely it is that your Representative will hear you and support syringe exchange.

To read up on syringe exchange, click here for information.

February 09, 2010

Subject:

Dear Representative -

I am writing today as a constituent, and someone who cares deeply about ending AIDS. Tomorrow, Wednesday July 22nd, you will have the opportunity to vote for an Appropriations bill, the Labor-Health and Human Services Appropriations Bill. For the first time in 11 years, that bill does not include a ban on funding for syringe exchange programs, although it does include an important, and harmful, restriction (1). This is a huge step towards reducing the number of new HIV infections across the country.

I urge you to vote for the Appropriations bill without the ban on funding for syringe exchange, and against any amendments that would reinstate the funding ban or further limit how the funds can be used.

Cities with syringe exchanges have reduced HIV infections amongst people who use drugs by 80%, and have been conclusively shown, through peer-reviewed and government studies, to not increase drug use. The US government has lost over $700 million dollars to medical and other costs as a direct result of the ban on funding of syringe exchange, through unnecessary HIV and Hepatitis C infections. Syringe exchange programs currently operate in 185 locations across 36 states, DC and Puerto Rico. But these sites are not able to meet the needs of communities due to a shortage of funding options.

The ban on funding exists as a rider to the LHHS Appropriations bill. In order to allow federal funding of syringe exchange, the language must be removed from the bill. This has been done, and now that removal must be maintained. It is important to note that lifting the ban on funding of syringe exchange does not mean that more money will be spent, just that cities and states will be able to determine locally how to spend existing federal HIV prevention dollars.

Every single medical and scientific association, from the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization have come out in favor of syringe exchange programs. Syringe exchanges are beneficial beyond increasing the health of drug users; they also increase the health of communities by keeping used needles off the streets and reducing accidental needle sticks to law enforcement and children. They provide a gateway to healthcare for drug users, and frequently refer people into drug treatment programs.
The evidence is overwhelming that syringe exchange programs work to reduce HIV and Hepatitis C infections, and do not increase drug use. It is time for federal government dollars to go to support these proven life-saving programs.

Please vote against any amendments to the Labor-Health and Human Services Appropriations Bill that will come to the full House floor tomorrow.

Thank you.

(1) more on the funding restriction: The House Appropriations Committee included a restriction that federally-funded syringe exchanges can’t operate within 1,000 feet of a public or private day care center, elementary school, secondary school, college, junior college or university, or any public swimming pool, park, playground, video arcade or youth center, or an event sponsored by such entities. This restriction will make it difficult for syringe exchanges to operate within dense urban areas, and takes away local autonomy to decide how HIV prevention funding can be spent.

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An important note on a restriction that the House Appropriations Committee added to syringe exchange funding: The House Appropriations Committee included a restriction that federally-funded syringe exchanges can’t operate within 1,000 feet of a public or private day care center, elementary school, secondary school, college, junior college or university, or any public swimming pool, park, playground, video arcade or youth center, or an event sponsored by such entities. This restriction will make it difficult for syringe exchanges to operate within dense urban areas, and takes away local autonomy to decide how HIV prevention funding can be spent.

We need to work in the Senate to cleanly remove the syringe exchange funding ban, with no restrictions. More on that next week!

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