Thirteen activists were arrested today after holding asit-in in the offices of four members of U.S. Congress as part of the NationalDay of Action for Syringe Access, according to a Housing Works statement. Theaction day is the first in a serious of events to bring attention to the needfor exchange programs. Earlier this year, Congress reinstated a ban on federalfunding of syringe exchange programs. Advocates say the ban, which was liftedin 2009 after being in place for two decades, undermines public health goalsand will only increase rates of HIV and hepatitis C. Activists held the sit-inat the offices of Speaker John Boehner (R–Ohio) and Representatives DennyRehberg (R–Mont.), Mike Rogers (R–Mich.) and Eric Cantor (R–Va.) for their rolein re-instating the ban last December.