SUPPORT INCREASES TO HEALTH AND EDUCATION

I received the following information in an email from the Human Rights Campaign. I called Representative Paul Ryan and -- if you live in his district -- I encourage all my readers to do the same thing.

If you don't live in his district, call your Federal Representative to make your voice heard. Cutting money from supporting education and healthcare is just plain dumb.

URGE YOUR REPRESENTATIVE TO SUPPORT NEEDED
INCREASES TO HEALTH AND EDUCATION

We need you to call your Representative TODAY to urge that they vote YES on an important amendment that will increase health and education spending. Without this increase, critical funding for most of the important HIV/AIDS and other federal programs important to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community could be cut. The vote is tomorrow, Wednesday, March 29, so it's urgent that you make your call as soon as possible. Read on for background information, talking points, and your Representative's phone number.

THE ISSUE: President Bush did not include sufficient funds for health and education programs in the budget he submitted to Congress. Senators Specter (R-PA) and Harkin (D-IA) offered a bipartisan amendment in the Senate that passed 73-27 and increased spending for health care and education by $7 billion.

THE VOTE: Your representative sits on the House Budget Committee, which will consider the amendment tomorrow, March 29th. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) is offering the same amendment as the Senators did that will increase health and education spending. Without this increase, much needed increases in funding for the CARE Act and the CDC's HIV Prevention Program will be in serious jeopardy.

CALL TODAY: Your Member of Congress is on the House Budget Committee. Call Representative Paul Ryan at (202) 225-3031

THE ASK: Please urge them to vote FOR the DeLauro amendment to increase health and education spending, including those programs that help people living with HIV/AIDS; and those programs which prevent HIV.

LET US KNOW YOU CALLED: e-mail us at field@hrc.org to let us know that you called and to tell us what your Representative said.

Thank you! This phone call WILL make a difference.

Sincerely,

Human Rights Campaign

As always, God Bless.