The San Francisco Chronicle Letter to the Editor: CARE Act Funds

The San Francisco Chronicle Letter to the Editor: CARE Act Funds

The Ryan White CARE Act has proven to be one of the most significant public-health achievements of Congress in the past 20 years. Declines in AIDS deaths are a direct result of the therapies and services that have been made more widely available through the CARE Act. Your April 26 editorial makes the excellent point that Californians must fight for their fair share of funding as the Congress considers reauthorizing the CARE Act.

However, it mistakenly states that funding for the CARE Act hasn't changed in a decade. Inadequate funding for the CARE Act, especially the portion that goes directly to heavily impacted cities such as San Francisco, has occurred just over the last five years -- since President Bush took office, shortchanging crucial initiatives and failing to keep pace with rising health-care costs for the 40,000 new HIV infections each year.

Democrats are committed to ensuring a swift, effective reauthorization that maintains and strengthens systems of care. Bush and congressional Republicans must join congressional Democrats in making funding for the CARE Act a priority during budget negotiations.

Rep. NANCY PELOSI
House Democratic Leader
Washington