Background:
In August, Congress and the President reached an agreement to raise the national debt limit and reduce the national debt, and passed the Budget Control Act (also referred to as the “debt ceiling deal”).
As part of this agreement, 12 Members of Congress were appointed to a special bi-partisan congressional committee, the Deficit Reduction Committee (or “super committee”) tasked with developing a proposal to reduce the federal deficit by $1.2 to $1.5 trillion over the next ten years.
The 12 members of the deficit reduction committee are:
Senator Patty Murray (D-WA),
Senator John Kerry (D-MA)
Senator Max Baucus (D-MT)
Senator John Kyl (R-AZ)
Senator Pat Toomey (R-PA)
Senator Rob Portman (R-OH)
Representative Jeb Hensarling (R, TX-5th),
Representative Dave Camp (R, MI-4th)
Representative Fred Upton (R, MI-6th)
Representative James Clyburn (D, SC-6th)
Representative Xavier Becerra (D, CA-31st)
Representative Chris Van Hollen (D, MD-8th)
The deficit reduction committee has authority to recommend policy changes to reduce spending, which could mean cuts to programs that are important to people living with HIV and AIDS—including Medicaid and Medicare, the Ryan White Program and other programs that support AIDS research, HIV prevention and testing, and care and support services. The committee can also recommend that the federal government implement new revenue raising measures (taxes) as a way to help reduce the deficit.
The deficit reduction committee must make a proposal to Congress by November 23rd. If it doesn’t, there will be automatic cuts to all discretionary federal programs that rely on annual appropriations, such as Ryan White. This would reduce funding for critical programs and harm people with HIV and AIDS who rely on these programs.
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Additionally, if the committee’s proposal is not enacted by Congress, the automatic cuts will be triggered in its place.
These automatic cuts (if triggered), will not affect certain “entitlement” programs for poor and low income individuals and families, such as Medicaid and Social Security. However, Medicare will face cuts to the provider side of the program, and will affect provider reimbursement (they will not impact beneficiaries).
What Can I Do?
The HIV Community, including many national HIV organizations, community groups and advocates, have come together to address this important issue. We have prepared tools to help you understand this issue, and make your voice heard.
Download An Advocates’ Guide to Deficit Reduction to learn more about how the Deficit reduction Committee is organized, important timeframes and deadlines, and the opportunities available to you to contact the committee and provide input.
Read The HIV AIDS Community Deficit Reduction Principals, supported by hundreds of partner organizations across the country to learn more about the issues at stake.
AAHIVM Advocacy:
Letter to President Supporting Continued Funding for Medicaid During Deficit Reduction 07.19.11
Letter from AAHIVM and HIV Health Care Access Working Group to President Supporting Continued Funding for Medicaid During Deficit Reduction
Letter to Senate on Preserving Healthcare Programs During Deficit Reduction 5.16.11
Letter from AAHIVM, HIV Health Care Access Working Group and the AIDS Budget and Appropriations Coalition to Senate on Preserving Healthcare Programs During Deficit Reduction
Letter to Senate on Preserving Medicaid Funding During Deficit Reduction 07.19.11
Letter from AAHIVM and HIV Health Care Access Working Group to Senate on Preserving Medicaid Funding During Deficit Reduction
Letter to Super Committee on Deficit Reduction Proposals 9.22.11
Letter from AAHIVM and HIV Health Care Access Working Group to Super Committee on Deficit Reduction Proposals
Letter to Super Committee on Preserving Funding for HIV Programs During Deficit Reduction 11.14.11
Letter from AAHIVM and HIV Health Care Access Working Group to Super Committee on Preserving Funding for HIV Programs During Deficit Reduction
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