The Coalition honored four lawmakers for their bipartisan commitment to sustaining federal investment in HIV prevention and treatment programs.
On March 17, the U.S. Business Action to End HIV team traveled to Capitol Hill to personally present our inaugural Champion Awards to four lawmakers who have demonstrated exceptional leadership in the fight to end HIV in the United States. The awards recognize Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Senators Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Susan Collins (R-ME), and Representative Mark Pocan (D-WI) for their bipartisan commitment to sustaining federal investment in HIV prevention and treatment programs.
Our Champion Award recognizes federal leaders whose sustained commitment and legislative action have meaningfully advanced the effort to end HIV in America. This recognition reflects the deep appreciation of our coalition's member companies for leaders who understand that strategic federal investment in HIV prevention and treatment delivers measurable returns: healthier Americans, stronger workforces, and reduced long-term health care costs for businesses and taxpayers.
Sen. Susan Collins received her award in recognition of her leadership as Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, where she secured more than $2.5 billion for the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program in the recently enacted FY2026 appropriations bill, including the restoration of $525 million that the administration's budget had proposed to cut. In accepting her award, Sen. Collins said, "While we have made significant progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS, our work is not finished. I remain committed to strengthening prevention and treatment efforts, supporting lifesaving research, and ensuring that the programs that have saved so many lives around the world can continue their vital work."
Rep. Mark Pocan, Chair of the Congressional HIV/AIDS Caucus, received his award in recognition of his sustained leadership in elevating HIV as a national priority and his role in building bipartisan, bicameral support for the prevention and treatment investments needed to meet the 2030 goal.
Sen. Bill Cassidy, a physician and a senator representing Louisiana — one of the states hardest hit by the domestic epidemic — was honored for his longstanding commitment to evidence-based HIV programs and his understanding of the intersection between public health and economic resilience in the South.
Sen. Tammy Baldwin, Ranking Member of the Senate LHHS Appropriations Subcommittee, was recognized for her steadfast advocacy throughout the FY2026 budget process and her consistent support of Ryan White and CDC HIV prevention funding. Her leadership helped ensure that the Senate's final appropriations position protected the programs our coalition has long championed.
Our coalition of nearly 100 employers across all 50 states believes deeply that ending HIV is not just a public health imperative, but a workforce and economic priority. We are grateful for the opportunity to recognize these four leaders for their bipartisan leadership, and we look forward to continuing to work with Congress to advance our nation’s efforts to end the epidemic by the end of the decade.
U.S. Business Action to End HIV was founded in 2022 by the Health Action Alliance, with support from ViiV Healthcare, to mobilize the private sector to help end HIV in the U.S. We offer free tools, resources, and events to help employers educate workers, fight stigma, improve access to HIV prevention and treatment services, and build connections to the communities that need it most.
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