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over Short Funding for HIV/AIDS Programs Feds Still Put Prevention Cash into Abstinence Only Approaches Rise in HIV Infections are Ignored says Human Rights Campaign Human Rights Campign
 Washington, D.C. -Deep concern was expressed Friday by the Human Rights Campaign over the minimal funding increases provided to the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency Act programs during the markup of the labor, health and human services and education appropriations bill in a House subcommittee Thursday. The $24 million overall increase to the CARE Act programs would cover the cost of inflation and provide little more.
HRC expressed particular concern over funding cuts to two vital programs within the CARE Act, the early intervention and pediatric AIDS programs. HRC also expressed concern over the amount allocated for HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted disease and tuberculosis prevention activities at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While it is unclear what HIV surveillance and prevention will receive, the subcommittee increased the funding by only $61 million - $34 million less than the president's request. "We are calling on the committee to restore and increase funding to the programs they cut, and to reach farther in increasing the funding needed for all of these vital programs," said HRC Political Director Winnie Stachelberg. "The bottom line here is that the epidemic is getting worse - not better - and the current resources allocated for fighting HIV/AIDS are not enough to combat this plague." Reports from the CDC indicate there are an estimated 900,000 people living with HIV/AIDS in the United States. The total number of people living with HIV/AIDS domestically increased by 33 percent between 1996 and 1999. In 2001, there were a total of 15,603 deaths caused by HIV/AIDS in the nation. The CDC also reports that AIDS is the leading cause of death among African Americans age 25 to 44. In Thursday's markup, the House subcommittee flat funded the minority HIV/AIDS initiative. "It is heart wrenching to see the number of deaths caused by AIDS in communities of color continue to skyrocket, while funding to combat the problem does not increase to meet this dire need," said Stachelberg. "Right now, the best way we can fight this disease is by preventing its spread with multifaceted, science-based prevention programs. Yet the government continues to funnel money into short-sighted abstinence only programs." While there was no funding increase for comprehensive sexuality education, which is an integral part of a science-based prevention plan, the subcommittee allowed an additional $10.3 million for programs aimed at teaching abstinence until marriage programs as the plan for preventing the spread of HIV. The subcommittee markup did increase funding for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) by $39 million. ADAP helps fund state HIV/AIDS drug assistance programs nationwide. "Obviously, in this difficult economy, we are happy to see any funding increase," said Stachelberg. "With federal and state budget shortfalls and Medicaid in crisis, states like Texas and Florida face severe problems getting life-saving drugs to those who need them. This minimal increase coupled with cutbacks in care will exacerbate the crisis. People are going to start falling through the cracks at alarming rates." |
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