September 1, 2009

AIDS Alliance Remembers
Senator Edward M. Kennedy

AIDS Alliance for Children, Youth & Families mourns the death of Senator Edward M. Kennedy, a champion of the disenfranchised and a leader in the fight for the care and well being of people with HIV/AIDS, as we also salute his legacy and accomplishments.

In 1990 Senator Kennedy was a sponsor of the legislation that became The Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency (CARE) Act that provided health care, drug treatment and support services to those Americans who could not afford it. In 2000 and 2006, Senator Kennedy was instrumental in the reauthorization of The Ryan White CARE Act and as a result, the survival and the quality of life for hundreds of thousands of people living with HIV/AIDS in the United States have been remarkably improved.

Because of his leadership, vision and tireless support on behalf of the HIV/AIDS community, in 2003 we awarded Senator Kennedy the AIDS Alliance Public Policy Award. His office told us he wanted to accept it in person at our annual VOICES conference, because he wanted to meet the people attending, especially those from Massachusetts. Lines from his eulogy by President Obama resonate here — "Ted Kennedy's life's work was not to champion those with wealth or power or special connections. It was to give a voice to those who were not heard; ...so many who never imagined that a U.S. Senator would take the time to think about someone like them." We note this because although it's big to us, the VOICES conference is modest, attended by less than 500 people, many of whom are HIV positive mothers and fathers, youth and family members, or the nurses, social workers and others that care for them. The recollection of that day more than six years ago is as clear to the AIDS Alliance staff as if it happened yesterday, because it meant so much to them. He pulled up in a blue mini-van with the dogs in tow. While his driver sat with the dogs, Senator Kennedy attended the conference alone, without fanfare or an entourage. When he met with the families from Massachusetts, Rosa, a HIV positive woman, thanked him and said "because of his work, her baby was born not infected with HIV." It was an unplanned and unscripted moment of real appreciation for the Senator. She was referring to the care that she received in a Ryan White program that identified her HIV during her pregnancy and helped her get the care, support and medications that prevented the transmission of HIV from her to her baby and kept her healthy.

The true impact of his work and compassion is defined by the difference in one person's life — Rosa's — and then multiplying it by thousands. The Ryan White CARE Act is emblematic of Senator Kennedy's legislative leadership that touched the lives of so many Americans. He reached across party lines to improve healthcare, civil rights and education for all Americans. We greatly appreciate all he did to improve the quality of life for all people, including that of generations to come.

We treasure the signed copy of his remarks from 2003, framed and hanging in our office. His closing sentence reads "The battle for quality, affordable health care has never been easy...We need bold action now and with your dedication and comittment we can make it happen. Let's get the job done!"

AIDS Alliance extends our heartfelt condolences to his family, legislative colleagues and staff. In the weeks and months ahead, we will honor his legacy by advocating for extension of The Ryan White CARE Act prior to its sunset on September 30, 2009, and for reform of the nation's health care system, ensuring it provides every person with comprehensive access to the medical care and supportive services required to lead healthy, productive lives.

Founded in 1994, AIDS Alliance for Children Youth & Families is a national non-profit organization whose mission is to advance the partnership between consumers and providers — we are the voice of women, children, youth and families living with and affected by HIV/AIDS. AIDS Alliance works to enhance and expand access to quality, comprehensive, family-centered care to America's women, children, youth and families affected by HIV/AIDS, as it represents the nation's network of over 650 Ryan White Part D funded community-based organizations. Part D programs serve over 53,000 HIV-affected women, children, youth and families through sites located in 35 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. For more information visit: www.aids-alliance.org