At the end of May, we asked ONE members to write letters to the editor to their local papers about the live-saving AIDS-funding legislation, PEPFAR. Below is a sampling of some of their successful hits.

If you want to take action now, sign our latest petition to Senators Reid and McConnell asking them to use their leadership to overcome the block by a small group of senators and move PEPFAR to the Senate floor.

The Birmingham News (Birmingham, AL)

Since its inception, PEPFAR has garnered bipartisan support and unparalleled cooperation between the executive and legislative branches. Now, it is time for PEPFAR to be reauthorized, and seven senators… are blocking all action on the bill.

Indiana Gazette (Indiana, PA)

This month, the reauthorization of an initiative called PEPFAR is before the U.S. Senate. This program, providing relief and medical care to people with the world’s deadliest diseases, including malaria, AIDS and tuberculosis, has helped to save millions of innocent lives in developing countries since its inception in 2003.

The Herald-Sun (Durham, NC)

While many Americans view Africa through the tragic headlines of crisis, chaos and strife, there are astounding stories of hope, compassion and progress that more Americans should read about in their newspapers, including this one.

One of the biggest success stories is called PEPFAR, an American foreign policy initiative to combat HIV/AIDS. Since it started five years ago, PEPFAR has allowed more than 1.4 million men, women and children to receive lifesaving AIDS treatments and live healthy, productive lives. It might not be a headline you’ve read, but PEPFAR has done nothing less than prevent millions of children from growing up without parents.

News and Record (Greensboro, NC)

PEPFAR was able to help 1.4 million people with HIV/AIDS get medicine and treatment. Today, PEPFAR’s time has run out and it is being considered for reauthorization and expansion. This process is being held up in the Senate. The House of Representatives passed the bill in April with a hardy 308-116 vote.

Bowling Green Daily News (Bowling Green, KY)

This political season, we’ve heard a lot about change. Obama and Clinton are talking about it. McCain is talking about it. But there seems to be one place where change is very, very slow to happen – the United States Senate. Despite overwhelming support from both parties, important legislation is stalled. I’m tired of these old tactics of delay, and I want to see the Senate show leadership by getting this legislation done.

-Virginia Simmons