PI Action alerts & updates ... 1996

104th Congress and HIV/AIDS

Emergency ADAP Funding Increase Moving Toward Approval

After an unprecedented grassroots mobilization, the President’s emergency $52 million increase for AIDS Drug Assistance Programs (ADAP) has tentatively been approved by Congress. On Thursday, March 7, the House of Representatives approved the Omnibus Appropriations bill, which contained the funding increase. This increase had strong bipartisan support and was included in Title II funding, thereby making it safer from “trade-offs” during final negotiations. The money would also become available immediately upon the President’s signature.

A few days later, the Senate approved the same $52 million increase. However, the Senate version of the funding was placed in Title IV, making it more susceptible to trade-offs in the final process. In addition, the increase is placed in a more conditional status, meaning that Congress and the President would have to agree on offsets or identify additional funds (i.e., entitlement cuts) before the money could be released.

The appropriations bill is now headed for a joint House/Senate conference committee and Congressional leadership is projecting completion of the FY 96 appropriations process by March 29, when both the House and the Senate will break for a two week recess. A temporary Continuing Resolution (CR) has been passed through midnight, March 29, while Congress deals with this issue.

It is imperative that the Senate recede to the House language regarding the ADAP increase, guaranteeing immediate release of the funds upon approval of the entire bill. While the $52 million increase falls short of the minimum $75 million needed for the remainder of the fiscal year, the funds are badly needed by states whose ADAPs are in a serious fiscal crisis.

Please contact your two U.S. Senators and ask them to recede to the House position which unconditionally funds ADAPs and allows states immediate access to these crucial funds!! We have come too far to allow this significant victory slip away!!

No Congressional Support for $90 Million Augmentation to CARE Act
President Clinton’s $90 million augmentation to the Ryan White CARE Act (detailed in the last TAN Alert) for the remainder of FY ’96 was not included in either the House or Senate appropriations bill. Instead, both bills call for the same funding as FY ’95, with a minimal $23 million increase for Title I. It is important to let your elected officials know that this funding is inadequate and that the CARE Act must stay off the bargaining table for the remainder of the fiscal year so that states and localities can plan and budget their programs.

Ryan White CARE ACT Reauthorization to be Finalized Shortly
House/Senate conferees are expected to finally act on the stalled Ryan White CARE Act Reauthorization bill. This must be completed before the April recess or states and localities will continue to have delays and uncertainties in program planning. Please ask your representatives to support immediate reauthorization of the CARE Act and to reject the amendment that mandates HIV testing of pregnant women and their newborns!

Repeal of HIV+ Military Ban Passes Senate; Less Support in House
The Senate overwhelmingly approved an amendment to the FY ’96 omnibus appropriations bill that repeals current law which mandates the discharge of HIV positive service members. Unfortunately, there is much less support in the House for repealing the measure.

Please contact your U.S. Representative and ask him/her to adopt the Senate position on this issue before the law takes effect and valuable servicemembers are discharged without benefits!