[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 80 (Thursday, June 22, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1078-E1079]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AND HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, AND 
             INDEPENDENT AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2001

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. NANCY PELOSI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 20, 2000

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill. (H.R. 4635) 
     making appropriations for the Departments of Veterans Affairs 
     and Housing and Urban Development, and for sundry independent 
     agencies, boards, commissions, corporations, and offices for 
     the fiscal year ending September 30, 2001, and for other 
     purposes.

  Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Chairman, I strongly support the Nadler/Shays/
Crowley/Horn amendment to increase HOPWA funding by $18 million in the 
FY 2001 VA/HUD appropriations bill. This additional funding will 
increase the ability of the HOPWA program to meet current needs while 
bringing additional newly eligible communities into this effective 
program.
  The need for housing assistance among those living with HIV/AIDS is 
greater now than ever. As new treatments and greater access to HIV/AIDS 
care through the Ryan White CARE Act allow infected individuals to live 
longer, new HIV infections are continuing at a steady rate. This means 
that the overall number of people living with HIV/AIDS has grown to its 
highest level ever. In addition, the new treatments that are extending 
so many lives involve a complicated regimen of medications, requiring 
certain medications to be taken at certain times, certain medications 
to be taken after eating, and still others on an empty stomach. This 
makes adherence very difficult, and nearly impossible without stable 
housing.
  As the number of people living with HIV/AIDS increases, so do the 
number of cities and states qualifying for HOPWA formula grants. At the 
same time, the rising costs of housing across the country, particularly 
in urban areas where a large proportion of people living with HIV/AIDS 
live, make it difficult for HOPWA to maintain current services without 
funding increases. Despite this increased need HOPWA funding has 
remained relatively flat over the past 5 years. Increases in the number 
of eligible jurisdictions means that flat funding is in reality a 
funding cut for all HOPWA jurisdictions.
  More than 200,000 people with HIV/AIDS are currently in need of 
houing assistance, and 60 percent of those living with this disease 
will need housing assistance at some point during their illness.
  HIV prevalence with the homeless population is estimated to be 10 
times greater than infection rates in the general population. In 
addition, homeless individuals are much less likely to have regular 
access to health care than the general population and are therefore 
less likely to be tested for HIV than are people with stable housing. 
One San Francisco study showed that up to 33 percent of homeless 
individuals who were living with HIV were unaware of being HIV 
positive.
  HIV/AIDS community policy experts have estimated that unless HOPWA 
funding is substantially increased, jurisdictions will face decreased 
service levels and could suffer decreased funding. To avoid these 
reductions,

[[Page E1079]]

we must pass this amendment and provide HOPWA with additional funding 
to ensure that people living with HIV and AIDS have access to the 
stable housing that is necessary for their medical care.

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