Media Contact:
Noah Barnes, Lifelong AIDS Alliance
(206) 957-1637

For Immediate Release
January 24, 2007

Lifelong AIDS Alliance dismayed by silence on domestic HIV/AIDS in State of the Union address

Seattle, Wash.--January 24, 2007--Lifelong AIDS Alliance today expressed disappointment that neither President Bush in his State of the Union address nor the Democrats in their response speech outlined how the federal government should address lack of access to life-saving medications and treatment for people living with HIV/AIDS in the United States.

“President Bush declared all of our citizens should have affordable and available health care,” Tina Podlodowski, Executive Director of Lifelong AIDS Alliance, said. “However, the HIV epidemic in Washington State is growing while state and federal dollars for care and treatment are level or decreasing. With no changes in policy, health care for people living with HIV/AIDS will become unaffordable and unavailable.”

Lifelong urges Congress and the President to ensure people living with HIV/AIDS have affordable and available health care by appropriating adequate funds to the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Modernization Act and by keeping vital social safety net programs, such as Medicaid and Medicare, strong.

About Lifelong AIDS Alliance
Lifelong AIDS Alliance provides food, housing and health insurance to people living with HIV/AIDS in King County. Lifelong also provides prevention education and is a leader in local, regional and national advocacy for people living with HIV/AIDS. Over 85% of Lifelong AIDS Alliance's clients live on less than $15,000 per year. With a $16 million budget, Lifelong AIDS Alliance is the leading AIDS service organization in the Pacific Northwest and is recognized nationally for its innovative work. The AIDS WALK is the organization’s largest annual fundraiser. More information about Lifelong is available at www.llaa.org.

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