ACT NOW – Urge Congress to Pass Bipartisan Spending That Ensures Access to Health Care 

Overview

Starting today, the federal government is shut down because Congress has not passed a continuing resolution (CR) to extend federal funding while Congress finalizes FY26 spending. In addition to continued funding, Democrats want the CR to include:

• A permanent extension of enhanced premium tax credits that help many individuals and families afford insurance coverage,
• Reversal of Medicaid cuts passed in the budget resolution earlier this year, and
• Guardrails to ensure that the Administration spends federal funding the way Congress intended and allocated. 

Maintaining access to health care is paramount for people living with and vulnerable to HIV. Urge Congress to pass bipartisan spending that protects and funds HIV programs, extends enhanced premium tax credits, reverses Medicaid cuts, and includes guardrails for the Administration to spend federal funding as Congress intends. 

Call Your Members of Congress Now:

• Go to the 5 Calls website which is running a campaign to Protect HIV Funding: https://5calls.org/issue/hiv-aids-budget-cuts/ 

• Enter your zip code to get info for your Senators and Representative. 

• Call your 2 Senators and your Representative.    

Suggested Call Script:

Please feel free to change the script below as needed to best reflect your lived experience and/or jurisdiction. 

• Hi, my name is [YOUR NAME] and I’m a constituent [living/working/caring for people] in your district. 

• I urge [Rep. Name] to pass a bipartisan Continuing Resolution to end the government shutdown that:
  • Protects and funds HIV programs
  • Extends enhanced premium tax credits and reverses Medicaid cuts to make health care affordable and accessible
  • Includes guardrails for the Administration to spend federal funds as Congress intends and allocates.

• A government shutdown will negatively impact HIV programs and services.

• People living with or vulnerable to HIV need predictable access to medical care and supports to stay healthy and survive – disrupting or cutting access to HIV prevention, care, and treatment results in:
  • New HIV cases and worse health outcomes, and
  • Increased costs as people get sick and seek care at later stages and in more expensive settings, such as emergency rooms.

• HIV care is an important part of the U.S. health care system – federal HIV funding supports access to prevention, primary care, mental health services, housing, and medications. 

• Reduced HIV funding, insurance, and Medicaid coverage will cost jobs and destabilize programs that people depend on — including people living with chronic conditions, low-income families, and uninsured people.  

• [Rep. NAME] should vote for a final fiscal year 2026 appropriations package that fully funds HIV programs to ensure that people living with or vulnerable to HIV are able to access treatment, prevention, housing, and research needed to live longer healthier lives.

If you leave a voicemail: Please state your full street address to ensure your call is counted.

Please call now, and urge others to call too!

ACT UP! FIGHT BACK!