Democrats Try To Eliminate AIDS Testing Program Funding For Newborn Babies

Regarding the following:

The disdain the Democrats have for the health of newly born children is a result of their support of killing them while in their mothers' womb. It's a slippery slope, indeed.

How can anyone, even Democrats, be against testing newborns for AIDS? It's just another reason for their title: "The Party of Death,"

Frank Joseph MD

DrFrank@abortiontruths,net



Liberals [Democrats] Try To Eliminate AIDS Testing Program Funding For Newborn Babies

Dear TVC Supporter:

Liberals in the Senate and House are using their control of the agenda in Congress to attempt to eliminate a $30 million program that encourages states to test newborns for HIV.

The program was authorized under the Ryan White Early Diagnosis Grant Program and has been successful in reducing the numbers of babies who become infected through their mothers. The HIV test costs $10 and the treatment to prevent HIV infection in a baby delivered by a mother with HIV costs $75.

By comparison, it costs at least $10,000 per year to treat a newborn with HIV. An infant with HIV has a life expectancy of more than 23 years. Lifetime care could exceed $250,000.

Liberals have decided, however, that this program is an "earmark" or special pork barrel program that should be eliminated. This funding is included in the omnibus spending bill that has already passed the House.

The $30 million has already been appropriated for this program, but liberals have introduced Section 20613(b) of House Joint Resolution 20, that prohibits funds going to the early diagnosis program. This money will revert back to the CDC's other HIV/AIDS activities.

Several years ago, the Traditional Values Coalition was a leader in exposing how irresponsibly the CDC uses HIV/AIDS grant money for organizations that promote the homosexual agenda, conduct flirting seminars, and other wasteful projects. See TVC's report, "Federal AIDS Dollars Fund Homosexual Proms And Fisting Seminars."

One of the few worthwhile programs to actually fight pediatric AIDS is being eliminated by liberals in both the Senate and the House!

In New York, for example, there was a 78% drop in infected newborns between 1997 and 2002 because of the baby AIDS program.

According to Senator Christopher Dodd (D-CT), after his state implemented a baby AIDS testing program -- of the 213 babies born to HIV-infected mothers in 2002, only one baby was confirmed as HIV positive!

Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) is a medical doctor and expert on AIDS. He has introduced amendment (SA 234), which will restore the $30 million in funding for the baby AIDS program. Unfortunately, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) is expected to block any amendments offered by Republicans to the omnibus spending bill!

The Senate is expected to deal with this issue by the close of business on February 15th.

TAKE ACTION: Contact your two U.S. Senators today and ask that they support Senator Coburn's amendment (SA 234) to restore funding for the baby AIDS program to the omnibus spending bill! Use CapWiz to write your letter: CapWiz. Or call them at: 202-224-3121.

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Traditional Values Coalition is an inter-denominational public policy organization speaking on behalf of over 43,000 churches.

For more information or to arrange an interview, please call (202) 547-8570.

Rev. Sheldon is a graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary, an ordained minister, and the founder of the Traditional Values Coalition in Washington, DC. His new book, The Agenda -- The Homosexual Plan to Change America, was recently released by FrontLine Publishers, a Strang Communications company.

Traditional Values Coalition
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Web site address: www.traditionalvalues.org

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