February 14, 2011

House Republicans Propose Cuts to HIV/AIDS Programs

Republicans in the House of Representatives have proposed slashing funding to HIV/AIDS programs both at home and abroad, according to a statement from The AIDS Institute. Among other reductions, the Republican plan would cut research funding for the National Institutes of Health by $1.6 billion, reduce HIV-related humanitarian contributions to poorer countries by $500 million, and strip $25 million from state AIDS Drug Assistance Programs. The AIDS Institute argues that these cuts generate a long-term increase in medical costs that exceeds any short-term budgetary gain.

To read the AIDS Institute statement, click here.

Search: Republicans, Congress, HIV, funding, AIDS Institute, NIH, ADAP

Scroll down to comment on this story.

Previous Comments:

Ron, Connecticut, 2011-02-15 15:16:49
Isn't it ironic that the first "death panel" proposal to cut spending comes from the republicans? They criticized insurance reform saying that health care reform would be at the expense of people's lives? Apparently, they are perfectly OK with death panels as long as they decide who lives and who dies.

Pat Johnson, Austin, Texas, 2011-02-15 13:11:50
Having Medicare matters when living with AIDS..I went 18 years without taking any meds with HIV, it was only after the AIDS diagnosis did I begin meds, recieve SSDI/MEDICARE and life is great.

John D., Washington DC, 2011-02-15 12:14:38
Agree with Peter Adams. In addition, long-term medical costs will not only increase, but the infection rate will as well from decreased prevention research (vaccines, microbiocides, etc.) and untreated people with high viral loads. These short-sighted polices will lead to higher costs. The Republicans are deficit hypocrites. We may be HIV+ but we still vote. POZ needs to lead the charge to vote out anyone who votes against us in 2012.

J. Combs, Gaithersburg, MD, 2011-02-15 11:20:08
Well, hope they make room in hospices throughout the country. We're gonna need 'em.

Gary Higo, Jacksonville, FL, 2011-02-15 11:17:02
This is only going to get worse, unfortunately. It's a shame the people it is affecting aren't banning together and taking to the streets like we did some years ago. Seems only to be the same workers, activist, advocates, not the majority of POZ people who are the one it directly effects. Don't cry when we having nothing and all the deaths for years will have been in vein. I truly shed tears over this

Phillip Ramsey, Panama City,Fl, 2011-02-15 09:26:06
Repubicans are just a bunch of stupid jerks that have no feeling for people other than that are wealthy!

Peter Adams, Redwood City, 2011-02-14 23:51:11
What do they expect us to do? DIE?? How evil can these people be? They are supposed to help U.S. citizens. Can we impeach these unpatriotic fools?