Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Modernization Act of 2006
RYAN WHITE HIV/AIDS TREATMENT MODERNIZATION ACT OF 2006 -- (House of Representatives - September 28, 2006)
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Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, it's hard to believe, but it's been 25 years since the first AIDS case was reported in the United States. Growing from a cluster of cases in Los Angeles in 1981, this disease spread throughout every segment of our society--no one was left untouched, and we were all forced to watch helplessly as AIDS transformed into a world-wide pandemic. In all, there have been 1.6 million cases of HIV infection in the United States including over 26,000 in Massachusetts.
Thanks to research and medical advancements, we began to make great strides in HIV treatment. By 1987, the first antiviral drug was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and 3 years later, in 1990, Congress passed the Ryan White CARE Act, which helped to improve the quality and availability of care for persons with HIV/AIDS. Gradually, with adequate care and treatment, those infected with HIV began to live longer, healthier lives.
Today, there are over 1 million people living with HIV/AIDS in the United States, the highest number in the history of this disease. But, with these improvements has come a greater need for the health care services and drug treatment provided by the CARE Act.
Each year, 40,000 people are infected with HIV in the United States. But rather than increasing funding for these programs, Congress has flat funded the CARE Act for a number of years. And unfortunately, the bill that this House is considering today, H.R. 6143, which reauthorizes the Ryan White CARE Act, once again fails to provide the necessary funds to meet the needs of this growing population. Instead, it shifts funds around--robbing Peter to pay Paul--while placing an even greater strain on the program's limited resources. As a result, vital medical and supportive services stand to be severely underfunded without any consideration for the human lives at risk.
A number of amendments were offered in Committee to increase funding for Title I, the Emergency Relief Grant Program, and Title II, the Care Grant Program. But, unfortunately, they were defeated by a largely party-line vote.
And, today, rather than allowing these and other amendments to be brought before the full House for consideration, this Republican-controlled Congress has closed off the process, providing us with only a mere up or down vote on this bill.
For these reasons, I oppose H.R. 6143, and I urge my colleagues to join me in voting no.
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