Predicting a sharp drop in federal funding for AIDS prevention and treatment, Massachusetts legislators and lobbyist groups appealed for more state funding for HIV/AIDS education at the State House yesterday.

Although Massachusetts funding for HIV/AIDS services has been rising since 2005, representatives from Project ABLE – AIDS Budget Legislative Effort – said the commonwealth should designate more funds because federal agencies predicted a $3 million drop in federal funding for HIV/AIDS services in the coming year.

The group asked lawmakers to increase the portion of the budget allocated to HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment programs to $41.7 million, up from $36.7 million in the 2006 budget. More than 16,000 people diagnosed with HIV/AIDS live in Massachusetts, according to the commonwealth’s official website.

The additional $5 million would go mostly to primary care and medication services for people infected with HIV/AIDS, as well as increase the availability of faster testing, prevention, public education and client and house support services.

ABLE lobbyist Mary Ann Hart touted her organization’s record in lobbying for more funds.

“We have been very successful in the past,” she said. “Last year, we were able get an additional $1.1 million in state funding, which was focused on communities of color.”

Prevention advocates at the meeting drew attention to statistics that indicate HIV/AIDS disproportionately affects minorities. A study released in 2005 by the Multicultural AIDS Coalition, one of the organizations in attendance, reported of the 1.2 million people infected with the virus in the United States, 47 percent are black.

“It’s going to take everyone to fight this – blacks, whites and Puerto Ricans,” said Hilda Mulholland, a counselor and HIV tester for the Coalition. “Everyone is here for one reason. We all need to speak with one voice.”

“I believe the fight against HIV is losing ground because the face of the disease is changing and increasingly becoming a face of color,” Rep. Peter Koutoujian (D-Newton) said.

Rep. Marie St. Fleur (D-Boston), vice chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, said the government should do more to educate and serve communities of color.

“We must think about the many languages, cultures and attitudes within these communities of color and what needs to be done to reach them,” she said.

Senate President Robert Travaglini (D-Boston) said the commonwealth must still debate the final budget before promising any additional funds for HIV/AIDS services.