| GMHC Objects to Diversion of
Federal AIDS Research Funds
July 10, 2003
Mr. Joshua B. Bolton
Director
Office of Management and Budget
725 17th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20503
Dear Mr. Bolton:
I am writing to express the concern of Gay Men's Health Crisis
(GMHC) over the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) plans to
divert funds from the FY 2003 and the FY 2004 budgets of the National
Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) to pay for
the research, development, and procurement of anthrax vaccines.
According to a letter sent to the Senate Appropriations Committee,
OMB plans to divert $145 million of NIAID's 2003 research budget
and up to $131 million of the 2004 budget. GMHC strongly urges you
to reconsider and to reverse these plans. Diverting funds of this
magnitude will have a detrimental impact on vital research efforts
for AIDS and other infectious diseases.
GMHC recognizes the importance of funding a vigorous response to
potential bioterrorism threats. Given the events of last year, responding
to these threats should include research and development of an anthrax
vaccine and the purchase of the vaccine. However, accomplishing
this by transferring funds from critical research grants in HIV
and other infectious diseases that collectively pose a global threat
to our national security is counter-productive. There are already
reports that NIAID grants are being cut in preparation for this
diversion of funds. The National Institutes of Health has a key
role to play in the fight against HIV and other infectious diseases
(including agents that may be used for bioterrorism) but its role
has always and rightly been devoted to research, not product procurement.
We believe that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) would
be the appropriate agency to oversee the procurement of the anthrax
vaccine. Congress recently appropriated funds to DHS for this purpose
and funding should be allocated from its budget for this need. If
additional funding is needed, we urge the Administration to work
with Congress to ensure that such funding does not come at the expense
of research on AIDS and other life threatening diseases.
The United States has played a leading role in research to stop
the HIV/AIDS epidemic and other infectious diseases. The newly enacted
global initiative on HIV/AIDS, TB, and malaria is an example of
that leadership. It is our hope that OMB, working with Congress,
will augment that leadership and not undermine it by shifting funds
from one vital need to another vital need. We can, and must, find
the means and the commitment to do both.
Yours truly,
Ana Oliveira
Cc: Secretary Tommy Thompson
© 2003 Gay Men's Health Crisis
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