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July 25, 2000
(House)
H.R. 4807 - Ryan White CARE Act Amendments of 2000
(Reps. Coburn (R) OK, Waxman (D) CA and 195 cosponsors)
The Administration supports House passage of H.R. 4807, which would
reauthorize appropriations for and amend the programs contained in the Ryan
White CARE Act. Since its enactment in 1990, the Ryan White CARE Act has
served as a lifeline in providing health care to hundreds of thousands of
individuals living with HIV and AIDS in the United States. This year, the
Administration requested a $125 million increase in funding for Ryan White
CARE Act programs, which represents more than a 340 percent increase in
funding for these programs since the beginning of this Administration. The
Administration applauds the bipartisan action on H.R. 4807 and urges its
swift passage.
While the Administration supports H.R. 4807, it has a few concerns with the
legislation and looks forward to working with Congress to address these
during Conference action. Specifically, while the Administration supports
the expansion of the existing grant program for HIV testing of pregnant
women and newborns under section 212, the Administration is concerned about
the bill's provision that could establish financial incentives for States
to enact mandatory HIV testing laws. In addition, H.R. 4807 authorizes
prevention-focused activities, such as partner notification and data
collection and surveillance, that the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention is already carrying out under existing authorities.
The Administration commends the bipartisan efforts of the Commerce
Committee in developing this important piece of legislation.
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