Medical students and AIDS activists rallied outside the Chicago offices of Sens. Barack Obama and Dick Durbin June 26 in order to pressure them to help bring a stalled global health bill to a vote.Students and activists convened June 26 outside the offices of Sens. Obama and Durbin. Students and activists convened June 26 outside the offices of Sens. Obama and Durbin. Photo by Amy Wooten
Obama and Durbin are co-sponsors of a bill that would commit $50 billion over a five-year period to the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief ( PEPFAR ) program. This new bill would triple funding for the president's program. The House passed a similar bill but a vocal minority of senators, led by Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., have kept it away from the Senate floor for consideration.
The medical students, after rallying in Federal Plaza across from the senators' Chicago offices, had representatives bring clocks and signs to the offices of both Durbin and Obama to signal that time is running out. AIDS activists and champions of the bill wish for it to be brought for a vote before the July recess. The current act expires in September.
Medical student Rischi Rattan kicked off the rally, leading chants such as 'Durbin! Obama! Keep your promise! Pass PEPFAR now!' Rattan said that although Durbin and Obama have been advocates on Capitol Hill, they need to keep their promise to get the bill passed by standing up to the group of seven Republicans blocking the expansion of the AIDS program.
Those present wanted Obama and Durbin to use their power as Senate leaders and as a presidential candidate to press for the timely passage of an intact bill. Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain is also a sponsor of the bill.
'Obama is a co-sponsor, and now [ he is ] the Democratic presidential nominee, so this is really important,' said UIC medical student Emily Haak to Windy City Times.
AIDS activists in other parts of the country also rallied for the bill's passage.
'It's actions like this that really make a difference,' said AIDS Foundation of Chicago's David Munar, who was present for rally.