From Concern to Action: Concrete Ways You Can Help Protect Progress on HIV, TB, and HCV
Federal funding cuts, policy changes, and restructuring of public health systems threaten decades of progress in the fight against HIV, tuberculosis (TB), hepatitis C (HCV), and related health inequities.
These decisions affect access to care, scientific research, prevention programs, housing stability, and the social conditions that shape health outcomes.
Individual voices matter. Collective action matters even more.
Here are 10 ways you can join with TAG and take action — right now — to defend evidence-based public health and health equity.
- Start Here: Take Action Today
Contact Your Elected Officials
Calling or emailing your representatives is one of the most effective ways to influence policy.
Ask them to:
- Protect robust federal funding for HIV, TB, and HCV programs
- Support CDC, NIH, PEPFAR, and global health initiatives
- Oppose harmful restructuring of public health systems
- Defend scientific processes and science-based policymaking from political interference
Sample Script:
“I’m calling to urge you to protect federal funding and scientific integrity for HIV, TB, and hepatitis C programs. These investments save lives, strengthen communities, and reduce long-term health costs.”
You can call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224 3121 or go to https://www.congress.gov/members/find-your-member.
- Attend Public Meetings and Hearings
Public forums shape policy decisions.
Participate in:
- Town halls
- Budget hearings
- Advisory council meetings
- Agency listening sessions
Ask questions. Share concerns. Hold leaders accountable.
- Meet with Policymakers
Constituents have power. You can request meetings with congressional offices and legislative staff to discuss public health priorities.
- Advocacy Resources and Toolkits
Explore TAG’s advocacy tools:
- Policy fact sheets
- Budget analyses
- Issue briefs
- Talking points
- Partner resources
- Glossary of public health terms
- Get Policy Alerts
Stay informed about upcoming votes, budget decisions, and public comment periods.
Sign up to receive timely action alerts from TAG.
Sign Up for TAG emails and Action Alerts.
- Speak Out on Social Media
Public officials pay attention to public conversations.
Share credible information. Tag decision-makers. Use your platform to advocate for health equity.
Sample Post:
“Funding cuts to HIV, TB, and HCV programs put lives at risk. We can’t afford to go backward. #ProtectPublicHealth”
Follow and amplify TAG on Instagram, LinkedIn, Bluesky, Facebook, and YouTube.
- Participate in Advocacy Training
Build long-term capacity for action.
Join TAG webinars, briefings, and trainings to deepen your understanding of policy and advocacy strategies.
View Upcoming and Recorded Webinars and Trainings
- Support the Work
Sustained advocacy requires sustained resources.
Monthly and recurring gifts help TAG respond quickly to policy threats and opportunities.
Even small contributions strengthen our ability to protect public health.
- Sign and Share Advocacy Letters
TAG and partner organizations regularly coordinate sign-on letters and advocacy statements.
Add your name. Share with your networks. Help amplify collective demands.
TAG can help you prepare:
- Key messages
- Data
- Personal stories
- Follow-up materials
Request help with scheduling a Meeting by sending an email to tag@treatmentactiongroup.org
- Share Your Story
Personal experiences bring policy debates to life.
If you are living with, affected by, or working in HIV, TB, HCV, or related fields, your story matters.
With your consent, TAG uses community voices in:
- Congressional briefings
- Reports
- Testimony
- Media outreach
Share Your Story with TAG via email, tag@treatmentactiongroup.org
Together, We Protect What Works
Progress against HIV, TB, and HCV has never happened by accident. It has been driven by community leadership, scientific integrity, and sustained advocacy, often in the face of political and financial uncertainty.
Today’s challenges are real. But so is our collective power.
Every call made, letter signed, story shared, and meeting held helps defend lifesaving programs, protect evidence-based policy, and advance health equity for the communities most affected.
By taking action with TAG, you are part of a long tradition of people who refuse to accept preventable illness, inequity, and neglect as inevitable.
Together, we can defend what works.
Together, we can demand better.
Together, we can build the future of public health.
Stay connected. Stay engaged. Stay powerful.
