Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2006. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
AIDS Foundation of Chicago Press Release - December 11, 2006
MEDIA CONTACT: Allison Solomon, 312-334-0922, www.aidschicago.org
In the last hours of the "lame duck" congressional session, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Ryan White HIV/AIDS reauthorization bill by a voice vote on December 9, 2006. President George W. Bush signed the three-year reauthorization act into law later that day.
"This is welcome news for people living with HIV in Illinois and much of the country," said AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) Executive Director Mark Ishaug. "Our thanks go to the Illinois congressional delegation, especially Senators Dick Durbin and Barack Obama and Representatives Jan Schakowsky, John Shimkus, Bobby Rush, and Mark Kirk, for championing the inclusion of code-based HIV data in the distribution of CARE Act funds. Without this critical provision, Illinois would have faced a devastating $6 million to $11 million loss next year in federal funding for HIV/AIDS care and treatment services."
The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Act provides life-sustaining care and support services to an estimated 500,000 HIV-positive people in the U.S. who have no other means of affording needed HIV-related services. The program was last reauthorized in 2000.
Passage of the bill is the culmination of more than two years of extensive negotiations led by a bipartisan House and Senate working group. On December 5, the Senate voted unanimously to pass the bill, which was amended to ensure that formula funding awards would not fall below 95% of 2006 award amounts. The compromise also calls for a repeal of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Act after three years, instead of the traditional five-year reauthorization.
"We still have a lot of work to do," said Jim Pickett, AFC Director of Public Policy. "Funding must be increased immediately to fairly and adequately address the epidemic in areas with longstanding as well as emerging HIV/AIDS crises. A three-year compromise will give Congress and the AIDS advocacy community additional time to craft a more equitable care and treatment program."
Despite the provision to protect states with code-based HIV data, AFC estimates Illinois could experience a 4-6% funding reduction to its more than $70 million in Ryan White awards next year because of insufficient funding slated for the fiscal year that began October 1, 2006. As part of several bills passed last week, Congress passed another continuing resolution to extend FY06 funding for several months, requiring the newly convened Congress to finalize annual funding amounts in early February.
"While AFC endorsed passage of this bill, there are provisions that remain problematic. One such example is the unfunded mandate requiring CDC to use $30 million in already allocated HIV prevention funds as grants to expand opt-out HIV testing," said Pickett. "Because there are no new appropriations to support this mandate, CDC will need to further erode existing and already woefully under-funded state and local HIV prevention programs."
The fate of the Ryan White Act became embroiled last week in a political crossfire that involved legislation to reauthorize the National Institutes of Health (NIH), funding for state children's health insurance programs, and an anti-terrorism bill. Disagreements among several powerful lawmakers, including House Energy and Commerce Chairman Joe Barton (R-TX), Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Chairman Michael Enzi (R-WY), and Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, (D-MA) threatened to stall the Ryan White bill in the House unless Enzi and Kennedy agreed to move BartonÆs controversial NIH reauthorization bill in the Senate. Senate Democrats made passage of the NIH bill contingent upon increased funding for the childrenÆs health insurance program.
AIDS advocates from Illinois and across the country flooded the offices of Rep. Barton, President Bush, House Speaker Dennis Hastert, and House Majority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) with calls to end the stalemate and reauthorize the Ryan White bill immediately. After several days of tense negotiations, lawmakers finally reached a compromise in the early hours of Saturday, December 9.
"Tenacious and committed AIDS advocates from across Illinois and the U.S. made sure Congress understood the importance of finalizing Ryan White reauthorization this year," said AFC Associate Director David Munar. "We thank the thousands of Illinoisans who truly made a difference with their calls and saved us from a certain care and treatment crisis."
###
Founded in 1985 by community activists and physicians, the AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) is a local and national leader in the fight against HIV/AIDS. AFC collaborates with community organizations to develop and improve HIV/AIDS services; funds and coordinates prevention, care, and advocacy projects; and champions effective, compassionate HIV/AIDS policy.
061211
AFC061201
Copyright © 2006 - Reproduced courtesy of copyright owner - listed on source line.
AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted funding from Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, Elton John AIDS Foundation, the National Library of Medicine, Pacific Life Foundation and donations from users like you.
Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 2006. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.
AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.
Copyright ©1980, 2006. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content. .