White House Appoints AIDS Office Director

President Bush announced April 9 that the new director of the Office of National AIDS Policy (ONAP) will be Scott H. Evertz. The White House press statement on the appointment also said ONAP will have an increased international focus under the new director.

Evertz is currently the vice president of the Luther Manor Foundation, Inc., and the director of resource development for the United Lutheran Program for the Aging in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The press statement says that Evertz is a founding member of the Wisconsin HIV/AIDS Care Coalition and has done extensive volunteer work with HIV/AIDS patients.

ONAP plays an intergovernmental role in coordinating AIDS policy amongst the various federal agencies that are engaged in the effort to contain and control the disease. The White House statement says ONAP will also work closely with a Cabinet-level task force that is overseeing domestic and international AIDS policy.

Following is the text of the White House announcement:

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
April 9, 2001

President George W. Bush today announced that he has named Scott H. Evertz to be Director of the Office of National AIDS Policy. He is currently the Vice President of the Luther Manor Foundation, Inc., and the Director of Resource Development for the United Lutheran Program for the Aging in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

As the Director of the Office of National AIDS Policy, Mr. Evertz will work with federal agencies and coordinate the development of HIV/AIDS policy for the White House. He will also be the White House point of contact for organizations focused on community-based, national and international aspects of HIV/AIDS.

The Office of National AIDS Policy will have an increased focus on the international components of the disease. The President has directed the office to work closely with both the Department of State and the Department of Health and Human Services on policy recommendations on the international front due to the growing global health crisis of HIV/AIDS. The office will have two full-time detailees -- one from the Department of State and one from the Department of Health and Human Services. The Office will also provide support to a new high-level AIDS task force co-chaired by the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Health and Human Services. The task force will also include the White House Domestic Policy Advisor and the National Security Advisor and will work to better coordinate the Administration's proactive activities and responses to all aspects of the domestic and international AIDS epidemic.

Mr. Evertz has extensive experience working with victims of AIDS and has volunteered his time generously within the community. He voluntarily serves as the Development Counsel for Common Ground -- Elena's House, a faith-based organization which provides care and services to people living with HIV and AIDS and was a founding member of the Wisconsin HIV/AIDS Care Coalition.