I am a member of the San Jose RESULTS group, and I have a deep commitment to the relief of poverty throughout the world. I have been amongst people living in cardboard boxes on a burning garbage dump in El Salvador. And I have taken part in HIV/AIDS education in Tanzania. I have been told a little boy will likely have his leg amputated, not because his condition was likely to be expensive to treat, but because nobody had the money for the tests needed to perform a diagnosis. I know in my heart that your share these same concerns.

I am writing today to ensure these concerns are kept at the top of your mind as you outline the 2006 budget. In particular I am asking you to propose the following minimum funding levels:

• $1.5b for the Global Fund for AIDS, TB, and Malaria
• $300m for bilateral TB programs
• $800m for basic education, with a priority given to eliminating primary school fees

I want to thank you for your support of these issues.