[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 86 (Friday, June 24, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1351-E1352]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              AIDS DRUG ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (ADAP) FUNDING

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. MAURICE D. HINCHEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 24, 2005

  Mr. HINCHEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call attention to the AIDS 
Drug Assistance Program, ADAP, and the dire need for increased funding 
to help meet the needs of Americans living with HIV and AIDS. This 
necessary program provides medication to under and uninsured HIV/AIDS 
patients. Without ADAP, these people would not be able to obtain the 
necessary medication to prolong and improve their lives.
  Every year since its inception, the number of people helped by ADAP 
has increased dramatically. While we are all aware of the limited 
resources this committee has been given to meet its many pressing 
needs, the ADAP program is simply and urgently a matter of life and 
death for over 136,000 Americans each year.
  ADAP has been given a $10 million increase in this year's 
appropriations bill over last year, but the reality is that to keep 
pace with current and anticipated patient needs, ADAP requires a 
funding increase of $303 million. Without this funding, some 25,000-
35,000 HIV+ Americans who may have relied on ADAP will not be able to 
this year.
  In my home state of New York, where more than 22,000 people are 
enrolled in ADAP each year, I know first-hand the importance of the 
ADAP program. New York has been particularly hard-hit by the AIDS 
epidemic, with more than 160,000 residents diagnosed with AIDS, and 
150,000 to 200,000 persons currently living with HIV/AIDS. The state 
government has been extremely supportive of ADAP, appropriating $60 
million for 2005 to supplement the federal program.
  Despite New York's statewide commitment, there are dozens of states 
that find themselves unable to keep up with the demand for coverage 
under ADAP. As documented in the National ADAP Monitoring Report, some 
states are being forced to take drastic measures to offset the federal 
funding shortfall, including establishing waiting lists for AIDS 
medications, reducing drug coverage, and restricting eligibility.

[[Page E1352]]

  This has contributed to the pool of several hundred thousand HIV+ 
Americans who are unable to access available appropriate treatment for 
their HIV disease. This is dangerous to their personal health and 
quality of life, as well as to the public health. This ensures that 
more costly hospital interventions will be forthcoming in federal, 
state, local, and private funding streams, as HIV progresses without 
proper treatment.
  I urge the conference committee to fully fund ADAP at $303 million. 
All Americans living with HIV/AIDS must get the help they need to 
purchase their medications and save and improve their lives.

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