Record AIDS Funding Won in FY99 Budget

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Washington, D.C. -- AIDS Action praised record AIDS funding in the Fiscal Year 1999 omnibus budget package passed by the House Tuesday night and the Senate Wednesday morning. These funding levels will help modernize AIDS programs to better serve those affected by the new era of the epidemic. In particular, $110 million secured by the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) will help fight the epidemic in the African-American community and help address the CBC's declared "State of Emergency" on AIDS.

An increase in prevention funding that is more than both the President's request as well as funding passed by the House and Senate earlier this year sends a strong message of support for FY2000 funding levels that can launch a reinvigorated national prevention effort. AIDS Action called this summer for a 25% increase in prevention funding to help fight both rising infection rates and complacency among those at risk; the budget package increases prevention by about 5%, twice last year's increase.

"These are extraordinary funding levels that meet extraordinary changes in the AIDS epidemic," said Daniel Zingale, AIDS Action's executive director. "These levels of funding will help support better deployment of new AIDS drugs, improved care, better physician training as well as the development of better and less expensive drugs and treatments."

The budget package includes $4.087 billion for AIDS research, treatment and prevention, including $261 million in increases for Ryan White funding, $184.9 million more for AIDS research and $225 million more for the Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS Program (HOPWA). AIDS and AIDS-related funding for FY99 is about $800 million more than what was appropriated in FY98, including $297 million more for substance abuse prevention and treatment programs.

The spending package brings total prevention funding in FY99 to $657.8 million, $32.9 million more than FY98 and about $25 million more than what President Clinton requested. While this increase falls far short of what's necessary for a reinvigorated HIV prevention effort, it nonetheless sends a strong message for better prevention funding in the FY2000 budget.

"This year, the President and Congress reinvented AIDS spending to better meet the needs of increasing numbers of people living with HIV and AIDS. Next year, we must adapt to meet the needs of those at risk for infection," added Zingale.

AIDS Action also expressed deep concern about the bill's inclusion of language barring federal funds to District of Columbia organizations that operate needle exchange programs, even if those programs are operated with local or private money. AIDS Action will fight for creative solutions that allow continuation of needle exchange programs in D.C.

FY 99 Proposed Appropriations Levels for Federal AIDS Programs: Table