The President himself must engage the American public through a National Summit that encompasses the scientific, medical, social, and political aspects of the AIDS epidemic. This summit, which should be held by the end of this year, should consider the impact of race, culture, poverty, disability, region, gender, sexual orientation, and age on our ability to develop an effective national AIDS strategy.
Administration's Response
The December 6, 1995, White House Conference on HIV/AIDS was a rapid response to an important recommendation. It was a truly historic event that has been followed through with continued dialogue and outreach to the HIV-affected communities across the country, in particular through the series of town meetings being held.
Assessment of the Response
The first White House Conference on HIV/AIDS was a prompt and substantive response to this recommendation. During the past year, the Administration's commitment to fighting HIV/AIDS has been clearly more visible.
Followup Action Recommended
See Recommendation A.2 in Section II.
The President should then proceed with an address declaring the battle against HIV a national health priority and laying out his vision for the ending of this epidemic.
Administration's Response
At the White House Conference, the President addressed the American people about the high priority that the fight against AIDS has for this Administration—and the importance of the epidemic to American society in general. In addition, the President directed that a number of important followup steps occur to show the continued commitment of the Administration to addressing this epidemic. This included asking the Vice President to work with the pharmaceutical industry to promote greater private sector involvement in AIDS research; asking that a transgovernmental plan and budget for AIDS research be developed under the leadership of Dr. William Paul, Director, Office of AIDS Research (OAR), National Institutes of Health (NIH); and asking that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) host a national meeting on the interrelationship of substance abuse and HIV. The Vice President has held a meeting with the pharmaceutical industry and is now engaging in additional followup; Dr. Paul has presented the Federal plan to the White House; and the CDC meeting is scheduled for this summer.
Assessment of the Response
The President began this process with his speech at the White House Conference. That address provided a well-constructed blueprint for an appropriate national response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
Followup Action Recommended
The Council is awaiting the Administration's more detailed and comprehensive national strategy on AIDS.