|
PRESIDENT'S EXECUTIVE BUDGET
FAILS PEOPLE WITH AIDS
New York, NY — The Executive Budget for Fiscal Year 2008 proposed
by President Bush on Monday demonstrates a lack of commitment to people living
with HIV and AIDS. His failure to mention the domestic AIDS epidemic in his
State of the Union address three weeks ago was reinforced by an executive budget
that significantly underfunds HIV prevention, treatment, and support services.
While the President's budget includes increased allocations for the
Ryan White CARE Act (RWCA) and the Housing Opportunities for Persons With
AIDS Program (HOPWA), these funding levels fall dangerously short. The
RWCA funds the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) which is already contending
with waiting lists in several states.
"We're still looking at an estimated 200,000 people in the U.S.
who cannot access antiretrovirals," according to Robert E. Bank, Esq.,
Chief Operating Officer and the head of public policy advocacy for Gay
Men's Health Crisis. "This is indefensible."
As for HOPWA, the President's budget calls for $300 million — a
welcome increase but still $154 million short of what advocates say is
needed. "You can not get healthy and stay healthy and maintain a treatment
regime without secure, safe, adequate housing," said Bank.
The executive budget also contains increased funding for
CDC testing kits, but, Bank noted, "We would have liked to see
HIV prevention addressed in a more comprehensive way. Science-based
prevention policies, counseling, and education must be expanded if
we are going to lower the rate of new infections."
Finally, Bank expressed deep concern over the President's
proposals for Medicaid and Medicare — the largest sources of
public funding for HIV/AIDS treatment and care in New York and
nationwide. "We will be watching these proposals very carefully
and working with legislators to ensure that that coverage is
not eroded. As these programs go, so goes the health care for
HIV positive people in the U.S."
* * *
Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC) is a not-for-profit, volunteer-supported
and community-based organization committed to national leadership in the
fight against AIDS. Our mission is to reduce the spread of HIV disease,
help people with HIV maintain and improve their health and independence,
and keep the prevention, treatment and cure of HIV an urgent national and
local priority. In fulfilling this mission, we will remain true to our
heritage by fighting homophobia and affirming the individual dignity of
all gay men and lesbians. We provide services and programs to over
15,000 men, women and families that are living with or affected by
HIV/AIDS in New York City. For more information, please visit www.gmhc.org.
© 2007 Gay Men's Health Crisis
|
home 
