House Votes
to Pass Reconciled Ryan White CARE Act Senate on
Deck
Congress has voted to stand by Americans living with
HIV/AIDS, French says
Washington, DC -- AIDS Action today praised the U.S.
House of Representatives for voting to pass a bill that will help
Americans living with HIV and AIDS to continue to access vital
health care and social services. The Senate is expected to pass the
same bill before the 106th Congress adjourns. The bill reauthorizes
the Ryan White CARE Act for five years. Enacted in 1990 and
reauthorized again in 1996, the CARE Act is essential for Americans
living with HIV disease.
"Congress has voted
to stand by Americans living with HIV/AIDS,” said Claudia French,
acting executive director at AIDS Action. “Hundreds of thousands of
people depend on care and treatment accessed through the CARE Act.
This vote puts us one step closer to ensuring that individuals
living with HIV/AIDS have somewhere to turn when they need
help.”
The CARE Act
provides support to community-based organizations on the front lines
in the battle against HIV and AIDS. This legislation plays a
critical role in ensuring access to appropriate care and services
for Americans living with HIV/AIDS. CARE Act funds are used to
provide primary medical care, AIDS drugs, treatment information,
case management, and other essential support services. While each of
the CARE Act’s components addresses a specific need, they complement
each other and play a significant role in making this program the
health care and social safety net of last resort
“On behalf of all
Americans living with HIV/AIDS, we thank the members of both parties
for voting to reauthorize this successful program,” said French.
“AIDS is an issue that affects everyone and the House of
Representatives has acted wisely to pass this important piece of
legislation,” said
French. |