[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 22 (Wednesday, February 26, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S1659]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. DeWINE (for himself and Mr. Graham):
  S. 358. A bill to provide for compassionate payments with regard to 
individuals with blood-clotting disorders, such as hemophilia, who 
contracted human immunodeficiency virus due to contaminated blood 
products, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Labor and Human 
Resources.


                THE RICKY RAY HEMOPHILIA RELIEF FUND ACT

  Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I introduce, along with my distinguished 
colleague Senator Bob Graham, the Ricky Ray Hemophilia Relief Fund Act 
of 1997. This legislation will serve as the counterpart to similar 
legislation that will be introduced in the House of Representatives by 
Representative Porter Goss.
  Mr. President, the purpose of this legislation is to offer some 
measure of relief to families that have suffered serious medical and 
financial setbacks because of their reliance on the Federal 
Government's protection of the blood supply.
  In 1995, the Institute of Medicine released the findings of a major 
investigation into how America's hemophilia community came to be 
decimated by the HIV virus.
  According to that report, the Federal agencies responsible for blood 
safety did not show the appropriate level of diligence in screening the 
blood supply.
  The Federal agencies did not move as quickly as they should have to 
approve blood products that were potentially safer.
  And the Federal Government did not warn the hemophilia community, 
when the Government knew--or should have known--that there were 
legitimate concerns that the blood supply might not be safe.
  The Government's failure caused serious harm to real people--people 
who were counting on the Government to meet its responsibilities.
  Mr. President, this legislation is about trust. A substantial number 
of citizens trusted the Government to exercise due vigilance, and the 
Government let them down. It's only right that the Government try to 
offer them some measure of relief.
  Mr. President, I recognize the budgetary realities we have to 
confront. As we move through the process, we will have to address the 
issue of compensation. I think it's absolutely essential that we begin 
this process--now.
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