In This Issue

On Friday, the Trump Administration and Republican Speaker of the House, Paul Ryan, elected to "pull" the American Health Care Act—the bill they'd written to replace the Affordable Care Act—a major defeat for what was supposed to have been the new administration's first legislative success.

President Trump and Speaker Ryan's desperate attempt to reach a compromise between moderates and conservatives included an effort to eliminate many of the 10 Essential Health Benefits that Obamacare guarantees everyone with health insurance, whether they have purchased that insurance through the federal marketplace or obtain it through their employer. Essential Benefits include chronic-disease management services; prescription drugs; pregnancy, maternity, and newborn care; mental health and substance abuse treatment; lab services; and many other areas of care that people living with HIV and AIDS depend upon—and that are necessary to ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

In spite of this victory, we cannot let up. The Republicans will certainly try to "repeal and replace" Obamacare again. Either that, or they will try to kill the ACA by starving it to death, or killing it by 1000 tiny cuts. Now is the time to make sure we are organized and prepared for what is coming. One of the things we need to do is to use this time to make sure that everyone who is eligible for Obamacare but not signed up, signs up. The more people who take advantage of the benefits of having health insurance, the healthier our communities will be, and the more difficult it will be for Republicans to repeal the Affordable Care Act.

In this issue we close out Women's History Month with by celebrating the many women who are demonstrating leadership within our Black Treatment Advocates Networks nationwide. We begin by asking women from around the country what heroine inspires their work and why. We think you'll enjoy their answers.

Next, we highlight the work of the young women of BTAN, focusing on Millennials D'Metris Welters, who lives in Atlanta, and Charlotte's Solita Jefferies—both making an impact in ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic in their communities. They tell us why they got involved, share their perspectives on the essential role young people must play in ending the epidemic, sound off on whether enough resources are allocated to prevent HIV among Black women, and reflect upon the relationship between HIV/AIDS and the Movement for Black Lives. Speaking of young women, we profile one of the Institute's mobilization coordinators, Marie-Fatima Hyacinthe. Fatima talks about what inspired her to engage in public service, social-justice, and HIV/AIDS work, as well as her work at the Institute and some of the hurdles the movement faces.

Finally, lost in the commotion about "repeal and replace" is the possible impact of the President Trump's proposed budget upon Black communities. We are running a piece from our friends at Colorlines that brings us up to speed on what's at stake—the list of issues we must continue to fight about.

Yours in the struggle,

Phill