Coretta Scott King to President Clinton re: AIDS Funding

rowd 310471 THE KING CENTER CORETTA SCOTT KING Founder June 23, 1999 DEXTER SCOTT KING The Honorable Bill Clinton Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer President of the United States The White House CHRISTINE KING FARRIS Vice Chair, Treasurer Washington, D.C. 20500 BERNICE A. KING Dear President Clinton, Secretary I write, first to thank you for appointing John William Marshall the next Director of the U.S. Marshall's Service. Once again you have demonstrated an exceptional commitment to insuring that minorities receive a fair share of Presidential appointments, and I appreciate your leadership. I am also writing to ask you to amend your Fiscal Year 2000 budget proposal to increase funding for global prevention and treatment of AIDS to $100 million. As you know funding for the U.S. AIDS global outreach has increased very little in recent years, and amounts to a net reduction when inflation is taken into consideration. A modest increase of $100 million in funding, however, would substantially improve our prospects for addressing the worldwide AIDS crisis. Such an increase would be a cost-effective investment, which would save many lives and strengthen the ability of developing nations to more effectively manage their health care resources. It would also improve their ability to trade with the U.S. and help protect the growing global market for U.S. products. The global AIDS pandemic infects 16 thousand people every day, and has already cost an estimated $500 billion. This figure will increase dramatically in the years ahead unless we embrace the challenge of making a meaningful investment in global AIDS prevention and treatment while we still can. Mr. President, You have an impressive record of leadership in providing strong support of AIDS research, prevention and treatment programs. If you will now support this modest increase in U.S. funding for AIDS prevention and treatment, I believe we will have a chance to halt this deadly pandemic, save lives and improve the quality of life for millions of people. Sincerely, Coretta Corette Scuthing Scott King THE MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. CENTER FOR NONVIOLENT SOCIAL CHANGE, INC. 449 AUBURN AVE., NE ATLANTA, GA 30312-1590 (404)526-8900 FAX: (404) 526-8901 E-MAIL: mlkctr@aol.com WEBSITE: http://www.thekingcenter.com JUL 6 1999