[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 143 (Wednesday, October 5, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: October 5, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                    THE RYAN WHITE CARE ACT OF 1990

 Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I am proud to add my name as a 
cosponsor of S. 2489, a bill to reauthorize the Ryan White Care Act of 
1990. It is important to note that the Ryan White Care Act is named for 
Ryan White, and the battle which he fought against AIDS. Today, the 
Ryan White Care Act carriers on Ryan's battle to help those infected 
with HIV/AIDS to continue to fight the deadly effects of this disease. 
It funds programs nationwide, to both treat individuals with HIV/AIDS 
and educate the general public about what we can do to prevent the 
spread of HIV/AIDS.
  As the vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, I 
have become increasingly aware of the rapid spread of AIDS in Indian 
communities. As you know, during the Senate's consideration of the Ryan 
White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency Act in 1990, I offered an 
amendment to ensure that native Americans would be eligible to receive 
HIV and AIDS health and support services. With the assistance of my 
colleagues from Massachusetts and Utah, Indians with HIV disease and 
their families are currently eligible for funding under title II, 
special projects of a national significance. This was a great 
accomplishment as Indians are among the highest at-risk populations for 
the HIV infection.
  It is my understanding, that S. 2489 would enable special projects of 
a national significance to receive 3 percent of the amounts 
appropriated under parts A, B, and C of title XXVI of the Public Health 
Service Act which would result in an overall funding increase. S. 2489 
would also ensure that 50 percent of the funds made available would be 
used for special geographic areas, such as reservation communities. 
Under this approach, it appears that both urban and reservation Indians 
will be eligible for funding.
  S. 2489 should yield even greater opportunities for Indians with HIV 
and their families to access funding. This is a necessary step to 
address the projected HIV growth rate in Indian populations. In fact, 
since the Ryan White Act was passed, the number of reported American 
Indian AIDS cases has increased by approximately 351 percent. This is 
the largest growth of HIV in any ethnic group. What is equally 
alarming, is that Indian women, in their first through third tri-mester 
of pregnancy were four to eight times more likely to be infected with 
the HIV virus than other rural populations of women nationwide--and all 
indications are that these numbers will continue to increase in the 
future.
  It is my hope, that S. 2489 will provide the necessary funding to 
assist Indian communities in fighting this deadly disease. And I thank 
my colleagues from Massachusetts and Utah for their work on behalf of 
Indians with HIV.

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