Iowa leaders call for AIDS plans from Giuliani, Huckabee, all other candidates

Iowa Religious and Community Leaders Call for Plans to Fight AIDS from Giuliani, Huckabee and all other candidates 4 days before World AIDS Day, hundreds of Iowans join prayer vigils in five cities across Iowa UPDATE 11/26/07 10:25PM CT: Senator Hillary Clinton has released her plan to fight AIDS, one day before a candlelight prayer vigil was planned outside her office in Davenport. "Sen. Clinton has stepped up to the plate, and released a plan to fight AIDS which, if enacted, will help turn the tide of the AIDS epidemic worldwide. She joins Obama and Edwards in calling for adequate funding and effective policies to fight AIDS at home and abroad, and today, we are praying for all other candidates, Republican and Democrat, to do the same," said Kaytee Riek of Iowans for AIDS Action. Iowa- Hundreds of Iowans today attended prayer vigils to commemorate World AIDS Day, December 1st, and to call on all presidential candidates to release a plan to fight AIDS in the US and around the world by World AIDS Day. The vigils were organized by Iowans for AIDS Action, a statewide network of pastors and religious leaders, people living with HIV, AIDS service providers, students, and concerned citizens. The vigils were held specifically outside the offices of two candidates, Republicans Rudy Giuliani in Iowa City and Mike Huckabee in Des Moines. "The AIDS crisis is a non-partisan issue, and we expect the next president to continue and expand upon the progress made during the Bush Administration," said Kaytee Riek, of Iowans for AIDS Action. President Bush has made fighting AIDS a centerpiece of his administration. In his 2003 State of the Union Address, Bush announced the President¹s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a $15 billion over 5 year program to treat 2 million people with AIDS in 15 focus countries, and prevent 7 million new infections. In 2008, that program will likely receive $6 billion in funding from Congress. While campaigning in 2004, Bush used the pulpit of an African-American church in Philadelphia to call for increased funding for the AIDS Drug Assistance Programs, which provide treatment to people with AIDS in the US who do not qualify for Medicaid. "We are calling for the candidates to support a comprehensive plan to fight AIDS, which includes $50 billion over 5 years for global AIDS, promotion of low-cost generic medication over expensive name-brand drugs, funding for evidence-based HIV prevention programs, and guaranteed treatment for all people with HIV in the US in need of treatment," continued Riek, who lives in Cedar Rapids. "Christians in Iowa care about important issues of justice, like fighting AIDS at home and abroad," said Bishop Philip Hougen of the Southeastern Iowa Evangelical Lutheran Church Synod. Hougen spoke at the vigil in Iowa City, outside of Giuliani¹s campaign office. He is one of over two dozen religious leaders across the state that have endorsed the 08.Stop.AIDS platform (www.08stopaids.org), which advocates say lays out the policies necessary to fight AIDS effectively worldwide, including in the US. Following the candlelight prayer vigils, advocates met with key campaign staff to lay out their demands. "Obama, Clinton, and Edwards have each released a plan to fight AIDS. This issue transcends politics, and we hope all other candidates, Republican and Democrat, will release AIDS plans by World AIDS Day as well," said Riek. Prayer Vigil locations (All on Tuesday, Nov. 27th): € Des Moines @ 6pm: 6th and Locust, outside of Huckabee¹s campaign headquarters € Cedar Falls @ 5:30pm: University of Northern Iowa, outside Maucker Union, featuring Senator Joe Biden (to be confirmed) € Davenport @ 5:30pm: 1416 W. 16th St, outside Clinton¹s campaign office € Iowa City @ 5:30pm: Begin at Trinity Episcopal Church, 320 E. College, and march to Giuliani¹s campaign office (featuring Bishop Philip Hougen of the Southeastern Iowa Evangelical Lutheran Church Synod) € Decorah @ 5:30pm: Luther College, in front of the Statue of Martin Luther