[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 123 (Wednesday, September 28, 2005)]
[House]
[Page H8493]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        THE RYAN WHITE CARE ACT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of 
reauthorizing the Ryan White CARE Act. Signed into law on August 18, 
1990, the act was designed to improve the quality and availability of 
care for persons with HIV/AIDS and their families.
  The Ryan White CARE Act awards critical grants to metropolitan areas 
with particularly high rates of HIV. These grants help pay for 
outpatient services including case management, home health, hospice 
care, housing, transportation and nutrition.
  The Ryan White CARE Act also provides money to States for pharmacy 
support through the AIDS Drug Assistance Program. This act enables the 
Federal Government to assist States so they provide lifesaving 
antiviral drugs for people who are HIV-positive.
  This legislation lets States choose how to spend the money. This act 
allows States to dedicate Federal dollars for home and community-based 
health care and pharmaceuticals. States have formed local consortia to 
assess communities' needs and organize regional plans for delivery of 
HIV/AIDS services, as well as medical care.
  In addition to supporting the States and major metropolitan areas, 
the Ryan White CARE Act also provides funds to primary care providers.
  This comprehensive law reaches local health departments, homeless 
shelters, community health centers, hemophilia centers and family 
planning centers.
  Mr. Speaker, I have not heard one negative thing about the Ryan White 
CARE Act. Why, then, are we allowing this critical legislation to 
expire without doing anything about it?
  Colleagues, allow me to call your attention to the five States with 
the highest numbers of HIV-infected individuals in the country: New 
York, California, Florida, Texas, and Georgia. In my own State of 
Texas, more than 18,000 people are infected with HIV.
  HIV/AIDS disproportionately affects African-Americans.
  Sixty-two thousand AIDS cases have been reported in Texas through 
December 2003--and that's not even counting HIV. Half a million people 
in this country and nearly 35,000 Texans have died of AIDS.
  Mr. Speaker, on Friday, September 30, the current Ryan White CARE Act 
will expire. Reauthorizing legislation must be approved. Without it, 
States, communities and individuals will no longer be able to access 
the critical funds they need to prevent, diagnose and treat HIV and 
AIDS.
  Because of its critical role in affording access to care among 
African-Americans living with HIV/AIDS, the Congressional Black Caucus 
is deeply concerned about the future of the Ryan White CARE Act.
  As a nurse, I cannot emphasize enough the importance of reauthorizing 
the Ryan White CARE Act.

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