ONAP Statement
FY2000 Appropriations
................................................................
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 19, 1999
Contact: (202) 456-2437
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AIDS
Czar Thrilled
With Funding Increases for AIDS
Care, Prevention, and Research
WASHINGTON,
DC - Commenting on the final budget bill just approved by Congress, Sandra
Thurman, Director of the White House Office of National AIDS Policy, stated:
"I am thrilled with the strong funding increases achieved across the board
in our efforts to address the AIDS epidemic both here and across the globe.
AIDS remains a very real crisis for America, and it is heartening to see
bipartisan recognition of our need to remain vigilant in our prevention,
care and research efforts."
"I am particularly pleased with the $80 million increase in funding for
our Minority AIDS Initiative, which was launched by the President last fall
in partnership with the Congressional Black Caucus," she added. "This initiative
has helped catalyze efforts in racial and ethnic minority communities across
this nation to expand their AIDS awareness and care efforts. This epidemic
remains a severe and ongoing crisis in communities of color, and the Minority
AIDS Initiative is bringing us together in new and exciting ways to end
that crisis."
Other highlights of the budget bill as it relates to HIV/AIDS include:
- Funding
for the Ryan White CARE Act, which helps cities and states care for
those living with HIV and AIDS, is increased $184 million to $1,595
million (13% over last year and 338% since FY 1993)
- HIV prevention
funding to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are increased
by $73 million to $730 million (11% over last year and 47% since FY
1993)
- AIDS
research funding to the National Institutes of Health will include an
increase of $224 million for a total of $2.024 billion (this is a preliminary
estimate, with final allocation to be determined by NIH)
- Funding
for substance abuse services targeting those at highest risk of HIV
infection, through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
(SAMHSA) were increased by $29 million to $122 million (31% over last
year and 122% since FY 1993)
- The Housing
Opportunities for People With AIDS (HOPWA) Program at the Department
of Housing and Urban Development was increased (in a separate bill)
by $7 million to $232 million (3% over last year and 132% since FY 1993)
- Funding
to enhance the Administration's efforts on global AIDS were increased
by $100 million
- The Administration
helped protect local authority over HIV prevention activities, successfully
removing language from the DC appropriations bill that would have tied
the hands of community health agencies in their ability to use needle
exchange programs as part of their overall HIV prevention strategy
- Special
provisions were included to protect AIDS nursing care facilities that
were endangered by previously enacted changes in Medicare reimbursements.
See attached
chart for specific information on AIDS program increases.
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