Advocacy

As part of Frannie Peabody Center’s commitment to our mission of advocating for those living with or affected by HIV/AIDS in Maine, the agency provides testimony and statements at the state and national level. The organization is also an active member of a number of community coalitions and advocacy bodies.

FPC Testimony & Statements

Frannie Peabody Center provides and/or contributes to testimony for legislative action that has an impact on our clients and the community we serve. Below are some recent examples of statements made by FPC staff on behalf of the agency.

LD 1970 || FPC Testimony - Katie Rutherford In Support of LD1970 – An Act to Amend the Laws Regarding Consent for HIV Testing and Disclosure of Related Medical Information for Insurance Purposes (May 20, 2025)

Letter to Senator Collins In Response to President's Proposed Budget for FY '26 May 7, 2025

LD 1328 || FPC Testimony - Katie Rutherford In Support of LD 1328 – An Act to Create Housing and Recovery Services for LGBTQIA+ Individuals Committee on Housing and Economic Development (May 5, 2025)

LD 1432 || FPC Testimony - Katie Rutherford In Opposition to LD 1432 – An Act to Remove Consideration of Gender Identity from the Maine Human Rights Act (May 5, 2025)

LD 1687 || FPC Testimony -Katie Rutherford An Act to Clarify and Expand Access to HIV Prevention Medications (4/29/2025) - and Community Testimony

LD 1053 || FPC Testimony - Celine Burrows An Act to Ensure That Rebates from Prescription Drug Manufacturers Are Passed on to Patients at Pharmacies (3/27/2025)

LD 1078 || FPC & GLAD LAW Testimony - Katie Rutherford An Act to Support Maine's Public Health Objectives by Increasing Access to Hypodermic Apparatus Exchange Programs (3/24/2025)

Amicus Brief || Summary in support of the U.S. government in Braidwood Management v. Kennedy- Access to HIV testing and prevention medications

LD 219 || FPC Testimony - Katie Rutherford An Act to Limit Hypodermic Apparatus Exchange Programs to a One-for-one Exchange (3/17/2025)

NewsCenter Maine || Some Maine nonprofits left in limbo as federal funding freeze looms (2/27/25)

LD 210 || FPC Testimony - Katie Rutherford An Act Making Unified Appropriations and Allocations from the General Fund (2/13/25)

Portland Press Herald || Letter to the Editor - Justin Burkhardt, Board President - Funding Freeze Could Have Had Fatal Consequences in Maine (1/30/25)

Bureau of Insurance - Following Intervention by the Maine Bureau of Insurance, Insurer Will Cover HIV Drugs (12/2024)

LD 2167 || FPC Testimony - Katie Rutherford An Act to Develop Maine's Economy and Strengthen Its Workforce by Establishing an Office of New Americans (1/30/24)

LD 2075 || FPC Testimony - Katie Rutherford An Act to Protect Healthcare Workers from HIV (1/11/24)

Amicus Brief || Summary in support of the U.S. government in Braidwood Management v. Becerra - Access to HIV testing and prevention medications

LD 1736 || FPC Testimony - Katie Rutherford An Act to Advance the National HIV/AIDS Strategy by Broadening HIV Testing

Testimony

Maine HIV/AIDS Advisory Committee

Voting Member

Maine’s HIV/AIDS Advisory Committee (HIVAC) is commissioned under Maine statute Title 5 §19202. HIVAC’s membership consists of a diverse range of experience within the landscape of HIV/AIDS in Maine and strives to be representative of the community for which it serves. Currently, the Committee includes HIV-positive individuals, medical providers, social service community-based organizations, as well as members of the Maine Legislature, Maine’s Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Department of Corrections, The Office of MaineCare Services, and Department of Education.

2019 HIVAC Report to Maine’s Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services

Interested in providing testimony for legislation that is important to you?

Check out these how-to guides from our friends at

The Southern Maine Workers' Center:

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