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Compiled By GayToday
Washington, D.C.--The introduction of legislation to reauthorize the Ryan White
CARE Act yesterday, by Sens. James Jeffords, R-VT and Ted Kennedy, D-Mass
represents an important step in the continuation of care and treatment for
people living with HIV/AIDS. The bill, if enacted, would continue to
enhance the lives of those affected by this threatening disease, says the
Human Rights Campaign.
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 Sen. Jeffords (right) is co-sponsor of the Ryan White CARE Act reauthorization bill |
"We applaud Sens. Jeffords and Kennedy for their continued commitment and
dedication, and look forward to continuing our work with Congress and the
administration on a swift, bipartisan and positive reauthorization of the
CARE Act," says HRC's Political Director Winnie Stachelberg.
The CARE Act, the largest discretionary federal investment in the care and
treatment of people living with HIV/AIDS, provides care and treatment to
individuals and their families impacted by HIV/AIDS.
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It supports a wide range of community based services, including primary home health care,
case management, substance abuse treatment and mental health services, and
nutritional and housing services.
It also supports the AIDS Drug Assistance Program, which has provided drug
therapies to uninsured and underinsured people with HIV/AIDS, thereby lowering
the HIV/AIDS death rate to its lowest point in nearly a decade.
"We must continue our efforts to ensure access to these services is
available for those living with HIV/AIDS, particularly those in hard to
reach communities, including communities of color, women and people living
in rural areas where health disparities exist," says Stachelberg. "The Act
has proven to be effective to the response to HIV/AIDS, and its future
must be protected."
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Healthcare Economics: The Threats
Insurance Protections Slammed
Medicaid: You Don't Always
Have to Be "Disabled"
Related Sites:
HIV Insite: Ryan White Care Act
HIV Dent.org: Ryan White Care Act
GayToday does not endorse related sites.
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The CARE Act was enacted to respond to the HIV/AIDS crisis and has
historically garnered broad and bipartisan support. President George Bush
signed it into law in August of 1990, after Sens. Orrin Hatch, R-UT and
Ted Kennedy, D-Mass provided the necessary leadership to steer the
legislation through Congress.
In 1996, Sens. Nancy Kassebaum, R-KS and Ted Kennedy, D-Mass, lead the
efforts to reauthorize the CARE Act, which passed the Senate with a vote of 97-3.
The final version passed the House of Representatives by an overwhelming vote
of 402-4, and was signed into law by President Clinton.
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