[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 149 (Thursday, October 28, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2209]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    RICKY RAY HEMOPHILIA RELIEF FUND

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JAMES A. BARCIA

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 28, 1999

  Mr. BARCIA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring to the attention of my 
colleagues an issue that we have let fall through the cracks and as a 
result have further devastated an innocent group of people. In the 
105th Congress this body passed the Ricky Ray Hemophilia Relief Fund 
Act by an overwhelming margin. The Ricky Ray Hemophilia Relief Fund 
provides a one time payment of $100,000 as compensation to individuals 
with blood-clotting disorders, such as hemophilia, who contracted the 
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) through contaminated blood products. 
To date not a single dollar has been allocated to fund the Ricky Ray 
Hemophilia Relief Fund Act.
  Despite assurances from the government that these blood products were 
safe, nearly 7,500 hemophiliacs were infected during the 1980's. These 
tainted blood products being given to innocent people have resulted in 
the destruction of many families. Children grow up without a parent, 
husbands are left without their wives, and in the case of one of my 
constituents, a mother loses her son and her husband, and must endure 
the further pain of watching her daughter suffer from the same horrible 
disease. Human life is too precious not to recognize this devastating 
tragedy. One life lost is one life too many.
  When other disasters arise, floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, we are 
quick to offer assistance. This body has been committed to helping 
people get back on their feet after they have experienced adversity. 
One hundred thousand dollars do not even begin to address the costs 
that individuals who must live with this disease face. One hundred 
thousand dollars do not justly compensate a family who has lost a loved 
one. But what the Ricky Ray Hemophilia Relief Fund will do is help pay 
for the astronomical expenses associated with the prescription drugs 
needed to treat this disease. It will help family members who are left 
behind pay for funeral expenses. It will help children who are left 
behind to plan for future education.
  Members of the hemophilia community have been neglected by the 
government. I realize this bill allocates $20 million for the Ricky Ray 
Hemophilia Relief Fund, but that is not nearly enough to fulfill our 
promises. I rise today to ask this House for a one time appropriation 
of $750 million so that we may begin to address the suffering endured 
by 7,500 members of the hemophilia community. As was so eloquently 
expressed to me by my constituent, ``there is no amount of money that 
can bring my loved ones back, but perhaps the Ricky Ray Hemophilia 
Relief Fund Act will bring some closure to this chapter of my life and 
restore my faith in the belief that the little people do matter.''

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