Date: Tue, 20 May 97 17:29:33 EDT From: "Phil Attey" Subject: HRC CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT AIDS VACCINE RESEARCH CENTER ________________________________________________________ NEWS from the Human Rights Campaign 1101 14th Street NW Washington, DC 20005 email: hrc@hrc.org WWW: http://www.hrc.org ________________________________________________________ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Monday, May 19, 1997 HRC CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT AIDS VACCINE RESEARCH CENTER Voices Concern that Goal Be Supported With Money, Continued Commitment To Finding a Cure WASHINGTON -- President Clinton's goal of creating a new research center devoted to developing an AIDS vaccine within the next 10 years must be backed up with adequate funding and continued dedication to fighting this disease on all fronts, according to the Human Rights Campaign. "We applaud the president's commitment but stress that this project will require a large infusion of federal money, which must not be siphoned from other programs that support people with HIV and AIDS," said Winnie Stachelberg, HRC's legislative director. "This new research center must be in addition to continued research into life-saving drugs and a cure for those people already infected. And the government cannot neglect the housing, drug assistance and other social service programs dedicated to people living with HIV and AIDS. "If the federal government can meet all these requirements, this will truly be on a par with President Kennedy's challenge to put an American on the moon." In light of this announcement, HRC also called on Clinton to support a measure currently moving through Congress calling for an additional $68 million for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program. This is the primary federal program for poor people seeking access to the new drug treatments. Clinton announced his plan Sunday, in a commencement speech at Morgan State University in Baltimore. He said the research center would be established at the National Institutes of Health and staffed by up to 50 researchers drawn from existing programs. He did not announce that any new money would be devoted to the project. Clinton also proposed a global AIDS research initiative, to be discussed by the leaders of the eight major industrialized nations at a summit next month in Denver. The Human Rights Campaign is the largest national lesbian and gay political organization, with members throughout the country. It effectively lobbies Congress, provides campaign support and educates the public to ensure that lesbian and gay Americans can be open, honest and safe at home, at work and in the community. - 30 -