From: MPetrelis@aol.com Date: Thu, 10 Aug 2000 19:37:23 EDT Subject: Dr. Coburn asks HHS to probe AIDS Legal Referral Panel August 10, 2000 Honorable Tom Coburn, MD US House of Representatives 429 Cannon House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Dear Dr. Coburn: Thanks for requesting that Health and Human Services investigate how Ryan White CARE Act funds are used by San Francisco's AIDS Legal Referral Panel. Please also ask HHS to investigate if any of the $200,000 in Ryan White CARE Act money awarded this fiscal year to the AIDS Legal Referral Panel is in any manner assisting the personal political agenda of Ms. Eileen Hansen, public policy director for the panel. Hansen is running for the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and there are numerous indicators she may be using her position at the panel and Ryan White dollars to win elective office. As you may recall, millions of Ryan White dollars sent to Puerto Rico in the 1990s was diverted away from vital health care programs for people with AIDS, and federal AIDS dollars were spent instead on political campaigns. With very little oversight for Ryan White funded programs in San Francisco, I fear Hansen and her legal group may be as corrupt as officials in Puerto Rico. It would also be great to know why Hansen has not resigned her Ryan White funded position until after her election, if only to avoid the appearance of using her job to advance her political aspirations. Perhaps it is time to mandate in the CARE Act that any high level executives of AIDS organizations receiving Ryan White funds seeking political office must step down from their job until after election day. I look forward to the HHS investigation of Hansen and the AIDS Legal Referral Panel. Sincerely, Michael Petrelis www.AIDS-Statistics.com Ph.: 415-621-6267 * * * Subj: Request for an HHS Investigation into the AIDS Legal Referral Pan el Date: 8/10/00 2:53:25 PM Pacific Daylight Time From: Roland.Foster@mail.house.gov (Foster, Roland) The following letter regarding the violation of federal law by the AIDS Legal Referral Panel of the San Francisco Bay Area was sent to Secretary Shalala today. August 10, 2000 The Honorable Donna E. Shalala Secretary Department of Health and Human Services 200 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20201 Dear Secretary Shalala, I am writing to request an investigation into a misuse of federal funds by an organization which has clearly violated federal law. As you know, federal law states that no part of any appropriation shall be used for publicity and propaganda purposes designed to support or defeat legislation pending before the Congress or any State legislation. The AIDS Legal Referral Panel of the San Francisco Bay Area, which this year received over $200,000 in Ryan White CARE Act funds, is actively lobbying members of both the House of Representative and the U.S. Senate in an effort to defeat a measure that would protect women and children from HIV. I have attached copies of a fax, an e-mail and a group sign on letter that the organization has sent to numerous congressional offices along with several news articles that quote from a press release distributed by the AIDS Legal Referral Panel. Regardless of the great merits of this proposal which will save hundreds of lives every year, the AIDS Legal Referral Panel has clearly violated federal law. I am requesting an immediate intervention by the Department, including an investigation of current and potential previous violations of law by this organization. I would also request that the AIDS Legal Referral Panel be asked to refund all of the CARE Act grant which it has recieved this year so that this money can be spent on patient care as it was intended. Furthermore, I would expect that this group be permanently prohibited from receiving any future federal funds. Recent reports from officials within San Francisco have compared the city's HIV infection rate to sub-Saharan Africa. If this is indeed the case, it is even more disturbing that an organization receiving federal funds is involved in a lobbying scheme against legislation that would actually prevent new infections and save lives. Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to a timely resolution and a response. Sincerely, Tom A. Coburn, M.D. Vice Chair Commerce Subcommittee on Health & Environment Enclosures ==================== Michael Petrelis Welcome to AIDS-STATISTICS www.AIDS-statistics.com 2215-R Market Street, #413 San Francisco, CA 94114