Engel Spearheads New York Delegation Effort to Reauthorize Ryan White Care Act

ENGEL SPEARHEADS NEW YORK DELEGATION EFFORT TO REAUTHORIZE RYAN WHITE CARE ACT
Friday October 14, 2005

Joined by Congressman Fossella, letter to HHS Secretary had bipartisan support from the entire New York Congressional Delegation

Washington, D.C.- Congressman Eliot Engel spearheaded a bipartisan New York Delegation effort to seek a timely reauthorization of the Ryan White CARE Act, which expired on September 30, 2005. The Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency (CARE) Act addresses the unmet health needs of persons living with HIV/AIDS by funding primary health care and support services. The CARE Act was named for Ryan White, an Indiana teenager whose struggle with HIV/AIDS and against AIDS-related discrimination helped educate the nation about persons living with HIV/AIDS.

New York City comprises three percent of the nation's population, but more than 16 percent of the nation's AIDS cases. As of December 31, 2003, there were 142,085 cumulative AIDS cases in NYC, and 88,479 residents diagnosed as Persons Living With HIV/AIDs.

Congressman Engel issued the following statement:

"New York City has always had a special respect for the opportunities afforded by the Ryan White CARE Act to serve the needs of our HIV/AIDS population. Although the Ryan White CARE Act is widely considered the last resort for people being treated for HIV/AIDS, it fills much of the void in providing treatment and support services for those who either are uninsured or underinsured and do not have the resources to access desperately needed care.

"No state spends more than New York to care for its residents with HIV and AIDS -- over $3 billion last year. New York has always viewed this funding as a partnership between the state, cities and federal government. Some of the proposed changes will adjust funding formulas to take into account the availability of other resources from the state and local level. This is bad public policy as it punishes localities that have taken responsibility for their local HIV care and creates a powerful disincentive for other states to prioritize funding for HIV in future years, if they think the federal government will just cover the gap. It is tragic and ironic for New York to lose future federal funding because it is at the forefront of providing progressive services and treatment.

"As a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee with jurisdiction over the Ryan White CARE Act, I look forward to holding hearings on the law's reauthorization. This letter to Secretary Leavitt at the Department of Health and Human Services is a powerful statement by the New York Congressional delegation. By producing a letter in which all 29 of New York's bipartisan Congressional Representative signed, we are indicating that we are truly united behind taking care of those with HIV/AIDS and reauthorizing and fully funding the Ryan White CARE Act."

http://engel.house.gov/index.cfm?ContentID=583&ParentID=7&SectionID=17&SectionTree=7,17&lnk=b&ItemID=580