Press room ... 2003 archive

Senate Says No to Increased AIDS Funding

September 12, 2003

Washington, DC—The U.S. Senate Wednesday voted down an attempt to add $400 million to the ailing Ryan White CARE Act for fiscal year 2004. An amendment to the House Labor/Health and Human Services Appropriations bill (H.R.2660) offered by Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) that would have added $214.8 million to the AIDS Drug Assistance Program, was defeated on a vote of 53 to 44, ruled out of order by the Chair as it would "exceed discretionary spending limits and thus be in violation of section 504 of the Congressional Budget Resolution"—the agreement adopted this year by Congress that sets overall spending limits.

The Ryan White CARE Act was first authorized by Congress in 1990, creating a federal program to address the growing domestic AIDS epidemic. The AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) is a primary component of the CARE Act. Administered by the states, ADAP provides access to HIV/AIDS treatments for low-income people who are uninsured or lack adequate prescription drug coverage.

Speaking on his amendment, Sen. Schumer said, "This has broad bipartisan support in the Senate. I hope we will fund it. This is not an ideological issue. No one disputes whether Government should do this. It is not a question of whether the money is needed. We all agree it is needed. I hope we can step to the plate and support this modest increase so that Ryan White is appropriated at the level that is needed." Senators Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and Bill Nelson (D-FL) also spoke persuasively in favor of the amendment during introduction and debate.

Referring to the amount already allocated in the bill, Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA), who raised the original point of order against the amendment, stated during debate, "There has been a certification from the Director of HIV/AIDS that this $2 billion is all that can be appropriately used." The vote, which split almost entirely along party lines, Sen. Mike DeWine (R-OH) being the exception, followed immediately.

"Senator Specter has it wrong," said Jean-Michel Brevelle, a SAVE ADAP activist from Maryland. "The $2 billion he cites was requested for Global AIDS programs and is also inadequate, not the Ryan White CARE Act. I don't know if he was himself confused or if he was trying to confuse others on the issue. ADAPs have been drastically underfunded for the past three years by this Congress and the Bush Administration, and people are dying waiting for life-saving drugs." The first deaths were reported in West Virginia less than two weeks ago, where three people on the ADAP waiting list died waiting to access the program.

"This is an outrage," said Daniel Kubert, Access Project Associate for the AIDS Treatment Data Network. "At a time when our national conversation centers on pride in America and courage in the face of adversity, this is an uncommonly cowardly act depriving vulnerable Americans of the only lifeline they have."

"The Congressional Budget Resolution isn't sacred doctrine," stated Jerry Spillman, California SAVE ADAP activist. "The Senate can waive its requirements if it so chooses. Budgets are as flexible as the people who make them. This isn't a budget issue, it's a human issue and a national crisis. And a national disgrace."

"The Senate is honestly considering giving the Bush Administration an additional $87 billion for a questionable war and foreign occupation, but can't seem to find a way to make $400 million available to care for its own citizens in need," said David Ernesto Munar, Associate Director of AIDS Foundation of Chicago.

Fifteen states currently have waiting lists or access restrictions on their ADAPs, according to the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors (report issued 8/29/03.) Of these 15, Senators from 10 states voted against any increase for ADAP in 2004—Alabama, Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, and Okalahoma—where combined waiting lists exceed 430 people. Oklahoma, and two other states not already mentioned (New Hampshire and Texas), also anticipate imposing new or additional restrictions this year. Senators for these states also voted against increases.

Sen. Specter's amendment (S.Amdt. 1542), which substituted the language and funding amounts from the Senate version of the bill, was passed. The final version of the Labor/HHS Appropriations bill was passed on a vote of 94 to 0. The bill now moves to conference committee.

The Save ADAP Committee is a Working Group of the AIDS Treatment Activist Coalition (ATAC), a national coalition of AIDS treatment activists and policy advocates. Working in conjunction with ADAP clients and service providers on the grassroots level, Save ADAP aims to ensure adequate funding for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program.