[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 123 (Thursday, October 5, 2000)]
[House]
[Page H8895]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          RYAN WHITE CARE ACT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Quinn). Under a previous order of the 
House, the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to be able 
to rise and support S. 2311, the reauthorization of the Ryan White CARE 
Act. This legislation needed to come to the floor before the end of the 
106th Congress. It is imperative that we continue the fight for 
treatment dollars to deal with those who are HIV infected and those who 
are affected.
  Thanks to the efforts of collaboration, this legislation provides a 
funding formula that will actually ensure that all Americans suffering 
from this devastating disease are properly covered. In particular, it 
will work to enhance some of the devastated areas in African-American 
areas and Hispanic areas to provide resources for those communities.
  The legislation maintains the integrity of the multi-structure of the 
CARE Act, allowing funds to be targeted to the areas hardest hit by the 
HIV and AIDS epidemic. In addition, I am pleased that the legislation 
maintains and, in fact, strengthens the decision-making authority of 
local planning councils and allows resources to be used to locate and 
bring more individuals into the health care system.
  I am also delighted to learn that the bill will provide more 
individuals with early intervention services, such as counseling and 
testing. This is particularly important in the 18th Congressional 
District, where many faith-based organizations, nonprofits, are now 
realizing the importance of education and prevention and speaking the 
cultural language of the different unique communities that need to 
understand the dangers of not having knowledge about HIV and AIDS.
  This bill, that I have supported in years past and am delighted to 
extend my support, extends Medicare coverage to people living with HIV. 
Under this legislation adopted now, States will have the ability to add 
poor and low-income uninsured persons living with HIV to the list of 
persons categorically eligible for Medicaid.
  This is very important for people in the 18th Congressional District 
here in Houston for getting proper coverage, and it is very critical 
that they receive the kind of quality care that is necessary. There are 
HIV-infected persons in my district and across America that need some 
relief immediately, and thus the Medicaid provision is imperative.
  Under current rules, most people living with HIV are ineligible for 
Medicaid until they have progressed to AIDS and are disabled. We wanted 
to engage individuals who are infected so they can have the proper care 
and treatment. We know with the new health care revolutions and the new 
drug treatments that have come about, it is very important to have 
early intervention so that these individuals can live full, active 
lives. New treatments, such as the highly active heart therapy, are 
successfully delaying the progression of HIV progression to AIDS.
  Mr. Speaker, this is very exciting. We can turn this situation 
around. Early access to HIV treatment is imperative. I remember coming 
to this Congress in the early 1990s or in 1990 as a local elected 
official to join with Senator Kennedy as he introduced the Ryan White 
treatment dollars.
  This reauthorization is a testimony that it works, that treatment 
works, and now we must focus on prevention. I believe the legislation 
must be signed by the President. The formula will add to people's 
lives; it will in fact save lives. I am very delighted to support this 
legislation, and I look forward to it being signed by the President so 
that it can save lives, not only in Texas and in my district, but 
throughout this Nation, as we continue to fight the AIDS epidemic 
throughout the world.

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