New President, a New Era in HIV/AIDS Policy

November 14, 2008—The historic election of Senator Barack Obama on November 4 as the country’s 44th president heralds a major shift in how the federal government will address the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

During the campaign, President-Elect Obama pledged in his first year in office to develop a comprehensive and coordinated national HIV/AIDS strategy that includes all federal agencies to fight the epidemic in the U.S. He also promised to significantly increase funding for the National Institutes of Health and for AIDS research as well as to expand federal support for science-based HIV prevention and education programs An important component of his proposal involves expanding access to high quality, affordable healthcare, and reducing health disparities.

President-Elect Obama supported the reauthorization of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief but would ensure that best practices and scientific evidence drive funding for HIV/AIDS programs. He also proposed expanding the program in the future to other regions of the world, including Southeast Asia and Eastern Europe. Additionally, the president-elect has supported the repeal of the travel ban that prohibits HIV-positive individuals from entering the U.S. and prevents HIV-positive people living in the U.S. from legalizing their immigration status.

amfAR will be working closely with our next president and his administration to eradicate HIV/AIDS in the U.S. and worldwide.