Light up the Senate switchboard for PEPFAR flickr.com/photos/leecullivan/102377512/

Wednesday night, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) filed a motion that would circumvent seven obstructionist Senate Republicans and allow the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) reauthorization (S..2731) to move forward. There will also be an attempt to raise a budget point of order against the bill due to the HIV/AIDS travel ban provision. Sixty votes are needed to overcome this budget point of order, and if that threshold is not met, the bill will fail for this year. The vote could happen as early as today and we need your help to get the 60 votes needed that will move the bill forward!

With lackluster commitments coming out of the G-8 summit this week, it's more important than ever that the U.S. give its fair share in its fight against AIDS, TB and malaria -- even if other developed countries aren't.

Please seek your senator's support! Call the U.S. Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to be connected to the senator of your choice. When you speak to a person say, "I would like Sen. ____ to authorize the full $50 billion over five years in the PEPFAR reauthorization bill and resist amendments to take away funding and resist any push to insert further abstinence only provisions."

Important senators to call:

• Republicans who wrote to Reid and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell in support of the Act: Dick Lugar (R-IN), John Sununu (R-NH) Thad Cochran (R-MS), Norm Coleman (R-MN), Susan Collins (R-ME), Bob Corker (R-TN), Elizabeth Dole (R-NC), Chuck Hagel (R-NE), Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Mel Martinez (R-FL), Gordon Smith (R-OR), Olympia Snowe (R-ME), Arlen Specter (R-PA), and John Warner (R-VA).
• Republicans in key committees, particularly those who supported PEPFAR reauthorization in committee (Foreign Relations, HELP, Appropriations)
• Sen. Kent Conrad (R-ND), to help fight the budget point of order
• Any other senator!