Congress reauthorized the Ryan White CARE Act, which provides most fed-funded AIDS-related services, last December—narrowly escaping its expiration date. Flat-funded at $2.1 billion despite an increase in demanded services, lawmakers from both political parties spent months debating how to divide the limited pot by region. The bill passed unanimously after legislators compromised: The act will be reviewed again in three years, instead of the usual five. In January, the newly Democratic House approved an additional $75.8 million for 2007, but advocates say Ryan White was funded at $600 million below estimated need and are de-manding more come 2008. “There’s not enough money to fund all of the services that are needed,” says Frank Oldham, Executive Director of the National Association of People With AIDS. New year, same story.
And for Our Next Act...
Will the new Congress do right by Ryan White?
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