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THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary


For Immediate Release August 8, 1996

PRESIDENT CLINTON ANNOUNCES THE APPOINTMENT OF JUDITH A. BILLINGS AND MICHAEL T. ISBELL TO THE PRESIDENTIAL ADVISORY COUNCIL ON

HIV/AIDS

The President today announced that Secretary Shalala will appoint Judith A. Billings and Michael T. Isbell to the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS. Pursuant to the President's Executive Order, signed on June 15, 1995, the Council will be established at the Department of Health and Human Services.

Judith A. Billings of Puyallup, Washington, has served as the superintendent of public instruction for the State of Washington since January of 1989. She was diagnosed with HIV/AIDS in March of 1995 after being infected with the virus while undergoing artificial insemination in the early 1980's. Ms. Billings went public with this information in January of this year. She is a known advocate of AIDS education in Washington schools and works with numerous organizations dealing with AIDS education, prevention and services. Ms. Billings received her B.A. in education from the Pacific Lutheran University and her J.D. from the University of Puget Sound.

Michael T. Isbell of New York, New York, is the associate executive director of the Gay Men's Health Crisis of New York City. From 1990 to 1994, Mr. Isbell was director of the AIDS Project for the Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund in New York City. He has been the author of numerous publications and has served as a member of the Centers for Disease Control HIV External Review Panel and the New York City HIV Health and Human Services Planning Council. Mr. Isbell received summa cum laude his B.A. from the University of North Alabama and his J.D. from Harvard University. He also received a Rotary Foundation graduate fellowship to study at the Universite de Bordeaux in 1981.

The Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS has been established at the Department of Health and Human Services. The Council provides advice, information and recommendations regarding programs and policies to promote prevention of the HIV disease, to advance research on HIV and AIDS, and to promote quality services to persons living with the HIV disease and AIDS.

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