More than 15 million Americans become infected each year with HIV and other sexually
transmitted infections. The annual medical costs? More than $8.4 billion.

Sadly, many women cannot ensure that condoms are used, even when they would like them to
be. Many men refuse to practice safe sex--and too often, women are deterred from even
suggesting condoms because of realistic fears of violence against them. Too frequently, the
awful consequences of this include the transmission of diseases such as HIV.

Microbicides Could Help. A microbicide is a product that kills HIV and other sexually
transmitted infections. They are being developed in forms that women could use
independently--for protection even when men are unwilling to use condoms.

Unfortunately, a lack of funding is slowing down research and development of more than 50 potential
microbicides. Last year, NIH spent only 1% of the AIDS research budget on microbicides
(despite the fact that women are the fastest growing group of people with HIV in America).

Funding microbicide research will help save lives and reduce medical costs. As your constituent,
I urge you to please sign on to the Microbicides Development Act of 2003. If you are already a
co-sponsor of the bill, you have my sincere thanks.

Yours truly,

___________________      ___________________
Signature                              Address