House Committee Votes to Free D.C. From Anti-HIV Prevention Measure

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Washington, D.C. -- The House Appropriations Committee Tuesday passed the FY2000 District of Columbia Appropriations Bill with an amendment to continue a ban on federal funding for needle exchange programs in D.C. but lifts one on the use of local or indirect private funds for such programs. That ban, in effect since October 1998, has severely burdened needle exchange efforts in the nation's capital.

"The needle exchange ban in D.C. threatens the lives of thousands of men, women and children in the nation's capital," said Daniel Zingale, AIDS Action executive director. "Getting dirty needles off our streets is proven to be among the most effective way of slowing the spread of HIV."

Washington's Whitman-Walker Clinic, a member of AIDS Action, has been barred by Congress from using private or local funds for needle exchange programs since October 1998. That ban was stricken Tuesday after an amendment by Rep. Jim Moran (D-VA) passed the Appropriations Committee by a vote of 32-23. A vote by the full House is expected when the bill reaches the House Floor later this year.

"Singling out D.C. men, women and children for increased HIV infection risk is simply tragic," added Zingale. "AIDS Action will continue to fight to ensure that this ban, as well as the federal funding ban, are lifted in the final version of the bill."

As a result of the D.C. ban, a separate organization, Prevention Works!, was established to administer needle exchange programs in Washington. This separation undermines the effectiveness of D.C.'s needle exchange program and AIDS Action and Whitman-Walker have been working to lift the D.C. specific ban.

In 1998, Congress passed a national ban on federal funding for needle exchange programs. An extension of that ban was included in the FY2000 Labor-HHS Appropriations Bill. AIDS Action has been working to repeal the ban.

Every leading federal scientist, the American Medical Association, the National Institutes of Health, the American Public Health Association and the Clinton Administration have determined that needle exchange programs reduce HIV infection without increasing drug use.