[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 140 (Friday, September 30, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: September 30, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
       THE RYAN WHITE COMPREHENSIVE AIDS RESOURCES EMERGENCY ACT

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                          HON. HENRY A. WAXMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 30, 1994

  Mr. WAXMAN. Mr. Speaker, I join with many of my colleagues today in 
introducing legislation to reauthorize programs to provide assistance 
for health care services to people with HIV and AIDS. This legislation, 
known as the Ryan White Act, was originally enacted in 1990 with strong 
bipartisan support. Since that time it has provided vital assistance to 
those cities that have been hardest hit by the epidemic, to all States 
since all States have now been struck by the epidemic, to those poverty 
health clinics that are seeing the poorest and most vulnerable 
Americans with AIDS, and to pediatric research and care sites that 
serve women and children with AIDS.
  The Ryan White Act has worked wonders in many places. Cities where 
emergency rooms were once the only source of AIDS care now have a more 
compassionate and more cost-effective system of outpatient services. 
States in which Medicaid was once the only source of life-sustaining 
prescription drug now provide treatment to many people who may thereby 
stay employed and productive. Clinics that once had to choose between 
cutting basic primary care services or adding newly necessary AIDS 
services can now provide comprehensive early intervention care to their 
patients along with other health needs. And pediatric research and 
treatment programs have grown to bring frontline clinical trials to 
community setting for women and children.
  This bill reauthorizes the programs of the Act through the year 2000 
at a level of such sums as may be necessary. In doing so, it makes a 
number of minor changes to the substance of the legislation. It also 
makes adjustments to the formulas of the programs. In brief, the 
formula for assistance to cities is amended to include within the 
formula base only the cases that were reported within the last 10 
years. Cities that might lose money under this new formula are held 
harmless at their fiscal year 1995 funding level. The formula for 
assistance to States is amended to add supplementary funding to those 
lower incidence, usually rural States that do not contain a city that 
receives direct funding.
  This bill is a companion measure to one being introduced in the 
Senate by Mr. Kennedy and Mr. Hatch, as well as a large number of their 
colleagues. If the measure passes the Senate in the remainder of this 
session, we will seek to have the House do so as well.
  The AIDS epidemic has been a national tragedy. The Ryan White Act has 
been one part of a national response. We have the opportunity with his 
legislation to renew that program, and I urge my colleagues to support 
that effort.

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