[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 15 (Wednesday, February 25, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S1026]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                RICKY RAY HEMOPHILIA RELIEF ACT OF 1997

 Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, I rise today as a cosponsor of S. 
358. This legislation, introduced by Senator DeWine, will provide 
compassionate payments to eligible individuals or families of persons 
with hemophilia-related AIDS.
  More than 90 percent of people with severe hemophilia and half of all 
persons with hemophilia have been infected with HIV. In addition, 
between 10-20 percent of the spouses, children, and partners of these 
individuals also have been infected. I believe all of us should support 
measures that would improve the lives of those who have contracted 
blood diseases through poorly screened blood supplies.
  The Ricky Ray Hemophilia Relief Act of 1997 would provide a payment 
of $125,000 to persons with hemophilia-related HIV who used blood 
products between July 1, 1982 and December 31, 1987. HIV-positive 
spouses and children of these individuals also are eligible. Based on 
the 7,200 eligible individuals, the bill would authorize $900 million 
to be contributed through a five-year trust fund administered by the 
Department of Health and Human Services. The ``window'' of eligibility 
is based on evidence of HIV transmission to the hemophilia community 
and the last manufacturer recall of contaminated blood products in 
1987. It seems clear to me that both the federal government and private 
industry should be held accountable for the infection of most of the 
hemophiliac community during those years.
  These people have had tragedy visited upon them through no fault of 
their own, amply because they depend on a blood supply that, for a 
time, was not kept safe. I am happy to be able to assure the American 
people that problems with our blood supply have been addressed and hope 
my colleagues will join me in providing some small relief to those who 
are suffering from past failures.

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