From: M Petrelis Date: Wed, 6 May 1998 13:02:48 EDT Subject: Rep. Coburn's 05/06 One-Minute Speech on the Accountability Project [dear friends, here's a copy of the text that rep. tom coburn, r-ok, delivered as a one minute speech on the house floor this morning, may 6, in washington. the april 26 s.f. examiner about our web site was attached, but i have not included in this email since many of you already have read the examiner story. --mp >One Minute Speech >By Tom Coburn, MD >May 6, 1998 >Member of Congress >The AIDS Accountability Project > > With the availability of powerful new drug therapies, hope now exists for >many of those living with HIV/AIDS. These effective treatments will enable >many with this horrible disease to live longer, healthier and more productive >lives. > Unfortunately, the cost of treating a person with HIV remains enormous. >Costs can range anywhere from $10,000 to $40,000 a year per patient. > As a physician who has cared for those with HIV, I believe that it is >unconscionable to deny life saving drugs to those living with this disease >and applaud the commitment of this body and others in funding AIDS related >services and programs. Last year alone, $1.5 billion was spent on AIDS. But >yet many who do not have private health insurance are still unable to receive >the care they need. How can this be? > I was shocked to discover how many AIDS organizations pay their executives >excessive salaries at the expense of those living with HIV. At a time when >direct services and medically necessary care is being severely curtailed, >many AIDS charity executives have put lining their own pockets above saving >lives. > For more information, I would urge my colleagues and the public to visit a >very informative site on the Web- the Accountability Project- which is >devoted to posting condensed IRS Form 990s from AIDS charities across the >country. The site is located at www.accountabilityproject.com. > If we are to ask the American taxpayer to increase public funding for AIDS >programs, it is essential that lawmakers and citizens hold AIDS charities >accountable for the money which they have been entrusted. > I welcome AIDS patients to contact me to discuss ways we can work together >to guarantee money from both public and private sources is spent on keeping >people with HIV alive and healthy rather than wasted on excessive >compensation packages for AIDS bureaucrats. > I would ask unanimous consent to have an article from the April 26th San >Francisco Examiner about the Accountability Project printed in the Record.