Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2006. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
PRNewswire - December 7, 2006
The U.S. Senate passed the CARE Act reauthorization bill by unanimous consent earlier this week. Quick action to bring the bill to the House floor for a vote is being blocked by the Chair and Ranking Member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, Rep. Joe Barton (TX).
"Without these resources, many people will die," said Rep. Edolphus Towns (NY).
Rep. Maxine Waters (CA) noted that the CARE Act provides critical funds for the care and treatment of Americans who are living with HIV and AIDS. According to Waters, "If it is not reauthorized this year, many states including my home state of California will lose funds they need to treat people who are living with HIV."
Rep. Loretta Sanchez (CA) said, "The three-year compromise reauthorization succeeds in protecting funding for the regions that have historically been the epicenter of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, while also directing funding to areas where HIV/AIDS is emerging in new communities."
Rep. Tammy Baldwin (WI) noted how important the CARE Act's programs are to the estimated 1.1 million Americans who are living with HIV and AIDS, "This program is vitally important-in fact, it's lifesaving," she said.
Congresswoman Donna Christensen (VI), who chairs the Congressional Black Caucus's Health Braintrust noted the importance of the bill for people and communities of color. "I am extremely pleased to see the codification of the Minority AIDS Initiative, which is a victory in and of itself, particularly for the racial and ethnic minority communities that bear the brunt of HIV/AIDS."
"As the Health Task Force Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, I am especially supportive of this program because of its impact on improving the lives of minorities infected with HIV and AIDS," said Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo (GU).
The AIDS advocates were adamant in their call for passage of the reauthorizing CARE legislation. "We demand that the House move forward and pass this critical legislation. The lack of action is shameful and dismissive," said Rebecca Haag, Executive Director of AIDS Action Council. The Rev. Calvin Butts, III, Chairman of the National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS said, "Too many people in this nation with AIDS are in need of the emergency and immediate care that this bill will provide. This is not the time to play political football." Julie Scofield, Executive Director of the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors (NASTAD), also noted the importance of increased funding for the CARE Act.
In a further show of support for immediate action in the House, Rep. Wynn circulated a letter signed by each member of Maryland's Congressional delegation urging the House leadership to bring the CARE Act reauthorization bill to the House floor for a vote before Congress adjourns.
Attending today's news conference were Representatives Edolphus Towns (NY), Maxine Waters (CA), Albert Wynn (MD), Loretta Sanchez (CA) and Tammy Baldwin (WI) and Delegates Donna Christensen (VI) and Madeleine Bordallo (GU). They were joined by representatives of AIDS Action Council; AIDS Alliance for Children, Youth and Families; The AIDS Institute; Human Rights Campaign; the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors, the National Minority AIDS Council; Washington DC Administration for HIV Policy and Programs and the Whitman-Walker Clinic. The National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS prepared a written statement in support.
(Editor's note: Complete statements from Members of Congress and AIDS Action Council are available upon request.)
Contact: Diego Sanchez, APR dsanchez@aac.org | 617.450.1524, c-617.835.1455
http://www.aidsaction.org
SOURCE AIDS Action
061207
PR061222
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