House Approves $619 Million for Minority AIDS Initiative
October 21, 2009
The funding was included in S. 1793, the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act that passed the House of Representatives today by a vote of 408-9.
“From 2004-2008, the number of people living with HIV/AIDS in Shelby County grew by an astonishing 21 percent. During that same period, the number of cases among men in our area grew by 20 percent and among women by 23 percent. African-Americans are disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS; however, this virus impacts all people, regardless of socio-economic class, race, gender or location. We must do more to stop the spread of this devastating virus, and that means fully funding the HIV/AIDS programs in the Ryan White Act, including the Minority AIDS initiative,” Congressman Cohen said. “This bill will ensure that all those who need treatment and care have access to it. The bill also funds early-intervention, education, prevention and testing programs and continues the fight against pediatric AIDS. I will continue to do all that I can to support funding for these crucial public health programs aimed at reducing HIV/AIDS in the Ninth District and the rest of the country.”
Background
S. 1793 reauthorizes the Ryan White HIV/AIDS programs that include emergency relief funding which provides grants to metropolitan areas with very high numbers of AIDS cases. These grants fund outpatient health care and support services, including home health care, hospice care, housing, transportation and nutrition services.
The bill also includes increased funding for comprehensive care programs which provide grants to states for health care and support services for persons with HIV/AIDS. The measure reauthorizes the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to make grants to eligible states to pay for certain services including HIV/AIDS testing, prevention counseling, and treatment of newborns exposed to HIV/AIDS. In order to qualify for these funds, states must have an early diagnosis program.
The legislation also authorizes funding for early intervention services aimed at preventing or reducing HIV-related deaths – such as the Pediatric AIDS program that provides primary care and support for women, infants, or children with HIV/AIDS and for their families.
S. 1793 also establishes a national testing goal for the U.S Department of Health and Human Services of 5 million tests per year by Jan. 1, 2010 through federally-supported HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, and care programs, both at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other federal programs.
________________________
Steven Broderick
Communications Director
Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9)
1005 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Direct: 202-226-7916
Main: 202-225-3265
steven.broderick@mail.house.gov
“From 2004-2008, the number of people living with HIV/AIDS in Shelby County grew by an astonishing 21 percent. During that same period, the number of cases among men in our area grew by 20 percent and among women by 23 percent. African-Americans are disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS; however, this virus impacts all people, regardless of socio-economic class, race, gender or location. We must do more to stop the spread of this devastating virus, and that means fully funding the HIV/AIDS programs in the Ryan White Act, including the Minority AIDS initiative,” Congressman Cohen said. “This bill will ensure that all those who need treatment and care have access to it. The bill also funds early-intervention, education, prevention and testing programs and continues the fight against pediatric AIDS. I will continue to do all that I can to support funding for these crucial public health programs aimed at reducing HIV/AIDS in the Ninth District and the rest of the country.”
Background
S. 1793 reauthorizes the Ryan White HIV/AIDS programs that include emergency relief funding which provides grants to metropolitan areas with very high numbers of AIDS cases. These grants fund outpatient health care and support services, including home health care, hospice care, housing, transportation and nutrition services.
The bill also includes increased funding for comprehensive care programs which provide grants to states for health care and support services for persons with HIV/AIDS. The measure reauthorizes the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to make grants to eligible states to pay for certain services including HIV/AIDS testing, prevention counseling, and treatment of newborns exposed to HIV/AIDS. In order to qualify for these funds, states must have an early diagnosis program.
The legislation also authorizes funding for early intervention services aimed at preventing or reducing HIV-related deaths – such as the Pediatric AIDS program that provides primary care and support for women, infants, or children with HIV/AIDS and for their families.
S. 1793 also establishes a national testing goal for the U.S Department of Health and Human Services of 5 million tests per year by Jan. 1, 2010 through federally-supported HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, and care programs, both at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other federal programs.
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________________________
Steven Broderick
Communications Director
Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9)
1005 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Direct: 202-226-7916
Main: 202-225-3265
steven.broderick@mail.house.gov
Issues:Health Care