Who's in Charge? Updates on New Congressional Leadership

Meet the Confirmed Republican Leadership for the House of Representatives for the 112th Congress

By Paul A. Kawata

December 22, 2010

This article was provided by the National Minority AIDS Council; Paul Kawata is the organization's executive director.

Who's in Charge? Meet the Republican leadership for the House of Representatives for the 112th Congress.

As the Republicans prepare to take control of the House of Representatives, the balance of power is shifting in Washington, DC. Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH) has made his appointments for the Republican leadership, so we share with you the confirmed appointees (updated from our previous message).

For those in the AIDS movement, its critical that we identify the key players and prepare to make the case that continuing and expanding federal funding for AIDS programs is not only good for the country, but also for their home states.

Congressman John Boehner (R-OH)

Incoming Speaker of the House

Ohio has 16,537 People Living with HIV/AIDS¹
49% of People With HIV/AIDS (PWAs) in Ohio are African American
5% are Hispanic/Latino
Less 1% are Asian/Pacific Islander
Less 1% are American Indian/Alaska Native

35% of AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) clients in Ohio are African American²
3% are Hispanic/Latino
1% are Asian/Pacific Islander
0.5% are American Indian/Alaska Native

Ohio currently has 328 PWAs on an ADAP Waiting List. They also have a reduced formulary and lowered financial eligibility to 300% of Federal Poverty Level (FPL) (disenrolled 257 clients). Finally, they disenrolled approximately 861 clients based on new medical criteria.²

Washington, D.C. Office
1011 Longworth H.O.B.
Washington, DC 20515
(202) 225-6205
(202) 225-0704 fax

Congressman Eric Cantor (R-VA)

Incoming Majority Leader

Virginia has 22,997 People Living with HIV/AIDS³
61% of PWAs in Virginia are African American
5% are Hispanic/Latino
1% are Asian/Pacific Islander
Less 1% American Indian/Alaska Native

53% of ADAP clients in Virginia are African American⁴
9% Hispanic/Latino
1% Asian/Pacific Islander
0.3% American Indian/Alaska Native

Virginia established an ADAP Waiting List and a reduced formulary⁴

Washington, DC Office
329 Cannon Building
Washington, DC 20515
P: 202.225-2815
F: 202.225-0011

Congressman Hal Rogers (R-KY)

Incoming Chair of House Appropriations Committee

Kentucky has 2,566 people living with AIDS⁵
31% of PWAs in Kentucky are African American
6% are Latino
<1% are Asian/Pacific Islander
<1% are American Indian/Alaska Native

28% of ADAP clients in Kentucky are African American⁶
6% are Latino
<1% are Asian/Pacific Islander
<1% are American Indian/Alaska Native

Kentucky has reduced its ADAP corollary.

Washington, DC Office
2406 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Phone: (202) 225-4601
Fax: (202) 225-0940

Congressman Darrell Issa (R-CA)

Incoming Chair of House Oversight and Government Reform Committee

California has 109,014 People Living with HIV/AIDS⁶
18.7% of PWAs are African American
30.5% are Hispanic/Latino
3.5% are Asian/Pacific Islander
0.5% are American Indian/Alaska Native

12% of ADAP clients in California are African American
39% are Hispanic/Latino
3% are Asian/Pacific Islander
0.3% are American Indian/Alaska Native

California Department of Public Health, Office of AIDS, HIV/AIDS Surveillance Section, data as of June 30, 2010

Washington, DC Office
2347 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20525
Phone: (202) 225-3906
Fax: (202) 225-3303

Congressman Paul Ryan (R-WI)

Incoming Chair of House Committee on the Budget

Wisconsin has 7,198 People Living with HIV/AIDS⁷
38% of PWAs in Wisconsin are African American
11% are Hispanic/Latino
1% are Asian/Pacific Islander
1% are American Indian/Alaska Native

32% of ADAP clients in Wisconsin are African American⁸
20% are Hispanic/Latino
1% are Asian/Pacific Islander
0.9% are American Indian/Alaska Native

Washington, DC office
1113 Longworth HOB
Washington, D.C. 20515
Phone: (202) 225-3031
Fax: (202) 225-3393

Congressman Greg Walden (R-OR)

Incoming Chair of House Energy and Commerce Committee

Oregon has 5,001 People Living with HIV/AIDS⁹
7 % of PWAs in Oregon are African American
11% are Hispanic/Latino
1% are Asian/Pacific Islander
<1% are American Indian/Alaska Native

7% of ADAP clients are African American¹⁰
16% are Hispanic/Latino
1% are Asian/Pacific Islander
<1% are American Indian/Alaska Native

Oregon Department of Health Epidemiological Profile through December 2009.

Washington D.C. Office
2181 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
(202) 225-6730
(202) 225-5774 fax

Congressman Dave Camp (R-MI)

Incoming Chair of House Ways and Means Committee

Michigan has 14,781 People Living with HIV/AIDS¹¹
59% of PWAs in Michigan are African American
4% are Hispanic/Latino
Less 1% are Asian/Pacific Islander
Less 1% are American Indian/Alaska Native

39% of ADAP clients in Michigan are African American
7% are Hispanic/Latino
2% are Asian/Pacific Islander
0.2% are American Indian/Alaska Native

Michigan Department of Community Health. Quarterly HIV/AIDS Report. October 2010

Washington D.C. Office:
341 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-3561
Fax: (202) 225-9679

If you live in any of the above districts, please contact the National Minority AIDS Council. You can reach us via email at info@nmac.org. It is essential that we identify constituents within these member's districts who care about HIV/AIDS. We would like to work with you to speak to your Representative about the need to increase HIV/AIDS funding and programs. We are particularly interested in creating a fix for the ADAP challenge.

Yours in the struggle,

Paul Kawata
Executive Director
National Minority AIDS Council

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