Champion Barbara Lee!

Feb 11th, 2009 10:54 AM UTC
By Field

Yesterday long-time ONE member Debra Goldenberg presented the 2009 ONE congressional packet to Maha Ibrahim, congressional aide to Representative Barbara Lee. Champion Lee – as some refer to the congresswoman in the 9th district – has been a leader on issues of global poverty and disease for years.

As a demonstration to her on-going commitment to end global poverty and preventable disease around the world, the congresswoman’s office is always eager to hear the concerns from their constituents who are ONE members. In fact, in the lobby of her office, Congresswoman Lee provides a four-page document titled Global Fight Against HIV/AIDS, which addresses the very issues advocated by ONE and many of our partners. The document catches everyone’s attention not only because it is the most centered document in the lobby, but also because it was printed on bright yellow paper! The pamphlet begins with Congresswoman Lee’s own words:

“AIDS is the greatest humanitarian crisis of our time. It is literally killing millions of people and crippling economies… Many developing nations are also being ravaged by HIV/AIDS. According to the United Nations Joint Commission on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), over 33 million people are living with AIDS worldwide, and estimates indicate that 25 million have already died. We have a moral responsibility to use every tool at our disposal to address this global pandemic.”

Further the document states “As Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Task Force on Global HIV/AIDS, Congresswoman Barbara Lee is dedicated to creating and supporting legislation that [among other things]:

• Maintains a strong commitment to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria and proves the United States’ fair share of funding of $2 billion.
• Authorizes $50 billion over 5 years to fight the global AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria pandemics.
• Ties increased debt relief and debt cancellation to increased spending on HIV/AIDS and the health sector.
• Addresses the immediate needs of women and girls to reduce their vulnerability to HIV infection.
• Supports HIV vaccine development and programs that would ensure global vaccine access.

California Bay Area ONE members thank Congresswoman Lee for being ONE of our Champions in D.C.

-Roscoe Mapps, California Field Organizer

TAGS: From ONE Members, HIV/AIDS, ONE