"People in the United States seem to have grown complacent and forgotten that HIV/AIDS is not just a problem overseas, but one here in our own nation. With as many as 1.1 million people in our country living with HIV/AIDS, our government, through passing a new Ryan White CARE Act, must ensure that lifesaving drugs, medical care, and social services are provided to those in need, wherever they live."
"Continued flat funding for CARE Act programs will do little to help eliminate current waiting lists, and nothing to extend care and treatment to people who aren't even on those lists. Instead, it will only serve to pit city against city and state against state for the limited dollars available. A person's ability to receive treatment should not depend upon where in the country they live."
"The Ryan White CARE Act works -- that is why it must be reauthorized. In the devastation following Hurricane Katrina, one of the only bright notes was that the Ryan White/ADAP system in states across the country went into high gear to assure that poor patients could access their life-saving medications. The CARE Act and the systems it has created serve as a model for all medical care in the U.S."
"Ryan taught us that AIDS can strike anyone, anywhere. As we work together to renew the Ryan White CARE Act, I urge the Congress and the Administration to provide adequate funding so that everyone who is in need of these lifesaving medications and medical care, can have the chance to live productive, healthy and longer lives."
"With as many as 1.1 million people in the U.S. living today with HIV/AIDS, and nearly 3 out of 4 of them uninsured or relying on public assistance, the CARE Act for them is a matter of life or death. This media campaign will remind Americans that HIV/AIDS exists in everyone's neighborhood and that despite the success of the Ryan White program, not all Americans have access to lifesaving care and treatment."
"The Ryan White CARE Act has a proven track record of success in providing lifesaving drugs as well as a full range of medical care and support services. The CARE Act is keeping people alive much longer than ever before. It has had strong bipartisan support from Congressional leaders over the years. We expect the same this year -- swift passage of reauthorization legislation this fall."
Resources at The Body:
Statement on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing on the Reauthorization of the Ryan White CARE Act by Jeanne White-Ginder on behalf of the Ryan White ACTION Campaign. Jeanne White-Ginder is the mother of the late Ryan White and board member of The AIDS Institute.
"We are pleased that the Senate, following the President's reaffirmation of his commitment to the Ryan White CARE Act during his State of the Union speech, is moving forward on reauthorization by holding a hearing on March 1st. The Ryan White CARE Act provides lifesaving healthcare and treatment to over half a million low-income or uninsured Americans with HIV/AIDS. The Administration put forth their principles for a renewed CARE Act last year, but Congress allowed the current law to lapse on September 30, 2005. The ball is now in Congress' court. They need to reauthorize the Ryan White CARE Act, and do so in a way that ensures funding reflects the actual needs of HIV/AIDS patients and their families throughout the country. Too many Americans, perhaps over 300,000 of them, are not receiving lifesaving drugs, and 40,000 new infections occur each year. We must make sure that people in this country get the basic medical and human services they need to battle this epidemic."
Representatives of each of the members of the Ryan White ACTION Campaign (www.ryanwhiteaction.org) -- The AIDS Institute, American Academy of HIV Medicine, HIV Medicine Association and the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors -- are available for comment on the senate hearing. Please call Arlyn Riskind at 202-457-8100 to arrange an interview or to receive more information about the Ryan White ACTION Campaign.
