Biden praised for bringing HIV policy back to White House
WASHINGTON — Jesse Milan Jr., president and CEO of AIDS United, issued the following statement after the White House announced Saturday that Harold Phillips would be the new director of the White House Office of National AIDS Policy.
“I am elated that Harold Phillips will be the new director. Harold is a consummate public health professional, and as a Black, gay man living with HIV, Harold’s life experience and perspective will be a fantastic addition for the White House. This appointment also models the principles of meaningful involvement of people living with HIV, which are a cornerstone of the efforts to end the HIV epidemic.
“In addition to that, Harold has shown throughout his career a deep commitment to lifting up others living with HIV. His community-driven approach to the work at HHS and for the Ryan White Program and his long background in our field make him an ideal choice for the role of director. Having served in both Republican and Democractic administrations, he has demonstrated time and again the ability to get things done and move the needle.
“President Biden has said he intends to end the HIV epidemic by 2025. That’s only going to be possible with massive investments in the interventions we know will work. I trust Harold to advocate internally for those investments. But the HIV community cannot sit idly by. We, too, must push for the investments in the education, treatment and prevention that we know will end the HIV epidemic.”
Phillips most recently served as the chief operating officer of the Ending the HIV Epidemic
