RYAN WHITE CARE ACT AMENDMENTS OF 2000 -- HON. DANNY K. DAVIS
(Extensions of Remarks - July 27, 2000)
[Page: E1349]
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HON. DANNY K. DAVIS
OF ILLINOIS
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Wednesday, July 26, 2000
- Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R.
4807, the Ryan White CARE Act Amendments.
- The Ryan White CARE Act provides resources through states, localities, and
agencies, all with the goal of improving the quality and availability of care
of low-income, uninsured, and underserved individuals and families affected by
HIV/AIDS. I am thankful for the many individuals and families who have been
assisted and care for because of this landmark legislation. And I thank those
health care providers, community health centers, and families who care for
individuals with HIV/AIDS.
- We have seen some successes as a result of the Ryan White Act. In fact, in
the city of Chicago, the number of deaths due to AIDS decreased from
approximately 1,000 per year in 1993-95 to only 377 during 1997. Also, the
Ryan White Act is reaching out to the poor. On a national level, the average
annual income of more than 50 percent of Ryan White clients have never
exceeded $25,000 per year, compared with 27 percent of all HIV-positive
clients in care in 1996. Furthermore, the AIDS Drug Assistant Program
formulary was expanded from 33 drugs in 1996 to 65 drugs in 1997, including
all protease inhibitors and antiretroviral therapies.
- These reports are encouraging, however, Illinois is among the ten states
in the nation reporting the highest number of AIDS cases from 1981 to 1999,
that is, 22,348 individuals with AIDS in Illinois, 19,347 of those individuals
living in Chicago. We can reach even more people through prevention and early
diagnosis programs and we can treat even more people with greater access to
the latest drugs and technology.
- I therefore fully support the expanded provisions under the Ryan White
Amendments. First of all, these new provisions revise the grant formula to
reflect the prevalence of HIV infections and AIDS cases. Under current law,
funds are distributed only on the basis of AIDS cases.
- Secondly, the bill establishes a new supplementary competitive grant
program for states in ``severe need'' of additional resources to combat the
HIV/AIDS epidemic. In determining severe need, HHS will consider evidence of
disparities in access and services and historically underserved
communities.
- Also, perinatal transmission of HIV is a problem that needs to be more
fully addressed through early testing of the mother and baby and through
counseling and treatment programs. I am pleased that this bill increases the
authorization for the grant program dealing with perinatal HIV transmission by
$20 million.
- In addition to the provisions I mentioned, the Ryan White CARE Act
Amendments would create focused efforts to reach prisoners with HIV/AIDS,
reach individuals who are currently not receiving care, and eliminate
disparities in access to services.
- Mr. Speaker, I therefore rise in strong support of the Ryan White CARE Act
Amendments.
END