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Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Goss for yielding me the time.
This is a closed rule which will allow for the consideration of S. 2311, the Ryan White CARE Act Amendments of 2000.
As my colleague from Florida described, this rule provides one hour of general debate, equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Commerce.
Under this closed rule, no amendments can be offered on the House floor.
In 1990, Congress passed the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency Act--known as the Ryan White CARE Act. This law created programs to help Americans with AIDS and HIV--the virus that causes AIDS--and to slow the spread of HIV. Those programs expired October 1.
The bill we are considering will reauthorize and strengthen the Ryan White CARE Act programs by expanding access, improving quality, and providing additional services.
Some of the changes will help target health care services to the people who need it the most but who can least afford it.
Women, children, infants, and youth with HIV will especially benefit from this bill, as will low-income individuals and families.
AIDS poses one of the greatest health challenges of our generation. There is no way to avoid its tragic grip. However, an active role by the Federal government can diminish the tragedy by reducing the number of new HIV cases and by supporting victims and their families.
The Ryan White CARE Act has worked. The Federal funds spent under this law have saved lives and reduced suffering. These are dollars that could not have been better spent.
For example, between 1994 and 1999, pediatric AIDS cases declined by nearly 80 percent--largely because of the programs funded by the Federal government under this Act.
I point out to my colleagues that this Act offers a framework that we should apply to tackling other tragic diseases--such as child cancer--and I hope that Congress will learn from the success of the Act.
This legislation, extending the Ryan White Care Act, represents our best response to dealing with AIDS and its consequences.
The bill we are considering is a compromise between previously passed House and Senate versions. The Senate version passed by unanimous consent. The House version passed by voice vote under Suspension of the Rules. I am proud to be a cosponsor of the House version.
Because there was general agreement between the House and Senate, there was no need for a formal conference committee.
I urge my colleagues to vote for the rule and for the bill. I reserve the
balance of my time.