Copyright 1999 Federal Document Clearing House, Inc.
Federal Document Clearing House Congressional Testimony
April 29, 1999
SECTION: CAPITOL HILL HEARING TESTIMONY
LENGTH: 716 words
HEADLINE:
TESTIMONY April 29, 1999 JUANITA MILLENDER HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS
LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND EDUCATION FISCAL 2000 LABOR-HHS
APPROPRIATIONS
BODY:
Women's Caucus Testimony
Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education
April 29, 1999 Thank you Mr. Chairman for providing the Women's Caucus this
opportunity to inform you of some of the most critical issues concerning women
on both sides of the aisle. As the Co-Vice Chair of the Caucus, I am proud to
see such a strong showing today by the women of the House. Every year since
1996, I have come before this distinguished subcommittee and requested increased
funding for critical HIV and AIDS research, education and treatment programs. I
have also testified in the past on behalf of the National Marrow Donor Program,
telemedicine and other critical women's health issues. I join many of our
colleagues in asking for the necessary funding for breast and cervical cancer
research, screening and treatment as well as for the lesser known silent killers
of women, such as fibroid tumors and lupus. I ask that you carefully review the
Women's Caucus letter we have submitted outlining all of our top concerns. In
the interest of time, today I will focus on AIDS. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the
hard work you, former Congressman Stokes, Congresswoman Pelosi and others on the
subcommittee dedicated to ensuring communities of color receive funding in
fiscal year 1999. However, as you well know, the battle is far from over. In
1997, African Americans accounted for 56 percent of all reported HIV cases;
African American women accounted for 60 percent of all AIDS cases in women; and
African American children accounted for 58 percent of the adolescent AIDS cases.
Consequently, I ask that you fund the CDC prevention initiatives with at least
the $667 million requested by President Clinton although an appropriation closer
to $800 million would meet the actual need. I also ask that you provide the
increases for the Ryan White CARE Act that are needed in order
to stem the rising rate of HIV transmission among women and minorities and care
for the tens of thousands of HIV- positive people who are living longer due to
the effective drug combination therapy that they need as an on-going regiment
throughout their lives. The CARE Act must be funded at President Clinton's level
of $1,511 million. In particular, I request that you appropriate $521 million
for Title 1, which provides emergency assistance care to three- fourths of all
reported AIDS cases in the United States and $130 million for Title 111, which
provides early diagnosis and treatment for those in most need and often, the
most difficult to reach. Eighty percent of these clients have incomes below 300
percent of the poverty level and 25 percent of them are women of child bearing
age. Further, Title HI saves millions of dollars long-term by providing early
diagnosis and treatment for almost 100,000 people, reducing hospitalizations by
up to 75 percent. The AIDS Drug Assistance Program under Title II is also a
vital service for people with AIDS. I urge you to provide as close to a $500
million appropriation as fiscally possible to not only extend lives, but improve
the quality of lives for countless poverty- stricken, inner-city communities. I
appreciate your continuing efforts to increase funding for NIH and ask that you
designate $2,061.8 million for AIDS research. I understand that you must meet
strict budgetary caps this year and I am committed to these caps as well. In
light of these fiscal limitations, I encourage you to take innovative steps
toward ensuring that our nation's women and children are provided with all the
necessary services ranging from AIDS treatment to school lunches to heating
during the winter months. The Faces of AIDS Stamp Act, which I co-introduced
with Doctor Tom Coburn and has approximately 100 co-sponsors, is an example of a
creative way in which we can fund AIDS education and research without effecting
the budgetary caps. I urge you to join me in meeting the dire needs of people
struggling with HIV and AIDS while maintaining fiscal responsibility by
supporting this bill. I have attached a copy of this bill and a bill summary to
this testimony for your review. I hope that we can all work together throughout
this process toward ensuring the health and well-being of our families most in
need. Thank you Mr. Chairman.
LOAD-DATE: May 3, 1999
