[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 152 (Tuesday, October 20, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S10568]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        THE RYAN WHITE HIV/AIDS TREATMENT EXTENSION ACT OF 2009

  Mr. ENZI. Mr. President, I rise today to express my great 
appreciation to Senators Harkin, Dodd, and Coburn for working in a 
bipartisan manner to reauthorize the Ryan White HIV/AIDS program. I am 
also thankful to all of the members on the HELP Committee for their 
efforts to ensure that we passed this bill in a timely manner so that 
individuals receiving care under the Ryan White program would not see 
an interruption in their services.
  This bill continues policies that seek to accomplish the goal of 
ensuring that Ryan White funding follows the patient. The bill, which 
will pass by unanimous consent, updates funding formulas and requires 
more accurate and reliable data reporting from the States, which will 
ensure that funds are allocated to the areas with the greatest need. It 
encourages aggressive testing strategies and establishes a national 
HIV/AIDS testing goal of 5 million tests per year. The bill also 
provides more flexibility to allow grantees to spend funds effectively.
  Over the years we have seen a dramatic change in the geographic 
location of the HIV/AIDS epidemic from northern, metropolitan areas, to 
southern--and in many instances--rural areas. Today, more persons 
living with AIDS reside in the South than in any other area of the 
country. Of the 26,347 new HIV cases, 51.2 percent were diagnosed in 
the 17 Southern States and of the top 20 metropolitan areas with the 
highest AIDS case rates, 14 were in the South. Thanks to the bipartisan 
efforts of the HELP Committee this reauthorization will ensure that 
funding is distributed in an equitable manner, reaching individuals 
with the greatest need.
  The Ryan White program provides care for millions of Americans in 
need of medical care. Unfortunately we have also seen abuses, where 
these funds are misspent and patients do not receive the care they 
need. As the ranking member of the HELP Committee, I will continue to 
work to prevent these abuses and guarantee that funding is distributed 
to legitimate organizations that provide real services. It is a 
travesty that so many millions of dollars have been wasted due to poor 
oversight and corruption.
  As Congress continues to authorize and provide funding for services 
under the Ryan White program, we must also commit to conduct proper 
oversight, so that these dollars actually reach the patients who need 
assistance, rather than being pocketed by criminals.
  I close by again expressing my great appreciation to my colleagues 
for their hours of hard work and dedication to extend the Ryan White 
HIV/AIDS program. I also thank the HIV/AIDS community for their 
tireless efforts to provide care to individuals with HIV/AIDS. Many 
Americans with HIV/AIDS will continue to receive access to vital care 
because of the compassion and dedication of HIV/AIDS organizations 
receiving Ryan White dollars. Finally, I also thank my staff members 
Greg Dean, Chuck Clapton and Hayden Rhudy, as well as the staff members 
of Senator Harkin's office, Connie Gardner and Jenelle Krishnamoorthy, 
for their hard work on this important bill.

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