Senate Appropriators Boost HIV
Prevention Budget

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or call: 202-530-8030

Washington, DC -- AIDS Action today welcomed a Senate move to include a significant investment in curbing new HIV infections when it marked up the Labor-HHS budget bill. The bill, which funds the federal government's major AIDS programs, calls for a $67 million boost in HIV prevention programs at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"Our repeated calls for increased attention to preventing the spread of HIV seem to have paid off," said Julio Abreu, Deputy Director of Government Affairs for AIDS Action. "This is an investment that will make a difference."

While pleased that the Senate finally responded to AIDS Action's appeals for increased prevention funding, Abreu criticized the bill for flat-funding other vital HIV/AIDS programs.

"We're thrilled that the Senate seems to understand that HIV prevention deserves more resources, but the victory is bittersweet," said Abreu. "Nearly one million Americans are now living with HIV and AIDS. As AIDS therapies improve, more and more people are living with this disease. Flat-funding programs that help provide health care is the wrong thing to do."

The Senate bill would increase Ryan White CARE Act Title I monies, funds slated for cities with the highest concentrations of AIDS cases, by less than 2 percent. Title II dollars earmarked for health care in rural areas and smaller cities would not be increased.

"CARE Act numbers like these are unacceptable to us," said Abreu. "The House at least matched the President's request, and we know we need more than that to support the community-based organizations who fight this battle on the front lines."

"We'll keep working to get these funding levels right. We need to make sure the Minority AIDS Initiative is adequately funded, and that Part F programs get the money they need," Abreu added.

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