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URGING THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES TO ACT SWIFTLY TO ENACT LEGISLATION REAUTHORIZING THE RYAN WHITE CARE ACT ACCORDING TO PRINCIPLES PROPOSED BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES TO PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE CARE FOR THE NEEDIEST VICTIMS OF HIV/AIDS.
Whereas, the number of individuals living in rural communities who are infected with the HIV virus or who have developed AIDS is increasing; and
Whereas, the demographics of HIV/AIDS infection has changed since the discovery of the disease, as evidenced by ever-higher rates of infection among children, women, and members of minority communities; and
Whereas, the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services has proposed five guiding principles to reauthorize the Ryan White CARE Act, namely that the legislation serve the neediest victims of HIV/AIDS, focus on delivering life-saving and life-extending services increase prevention efforts through more routine testing, increase the accountability of the states and organizations receiving federal funds, and give the federal government flexibility to reallocate unspent funds; and
Whereas, more than one million Americans live with HIV today, an estimated 40,000 Americans are newly infected with HIV each year; and
Whereas, at least one-fourth of Americans who are HIV-positive do not know they carry the virus; and
Whereas, prevention of the further spread of HIV/AIDS must be a national priority; and
Whereas, the Centers for Disease Control has recommended that HIV testing become part of routine medical care, so that individuals who have learned of their HIV status may be linked to proper care, support, and prevention services; and
Whereas, early testing for HIV/AIDS promotes public health and provides an opportunity to stop the transmission of the disease; and
Whereas, as of 2004, it's estimated that more than 6,000 people in South Carolina are living with AIDS; and
Whereas, in 2004, African Americans accounted for seventy-five percent of new HIV/AIDS cases, and African Americans represent seventy-three percent of the total population of South Carolina that have HIV/AIDS; and
Whereas, Title 1 of the CARE Act provides funds to eligible metropolitan areas with a population of at least 500,000; and
Whereas, South Carolina and other Southern and rural states do not qualify for Title 1 funding, and are therefore ineligible to receive equitable levels of federal funding for the treatment and care of needy HIV/AIDS patients; and
Whereas, the United States Government Accountability Office, in a recent report, has confirmed the need for Congress to revise the Ryan White CARE Act funding formulas, and that an equitable funding distribution would result in redirection of funding to the South and rural areas; and
Whereas, by following these principles, Congress has an opportunity to ensure that federal funding is delivered to the neediest patients, which will help them live longer and healthier lives. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:
That the members of the South Carolina General Assembly, by this resolution, urge the Congress of the United States to enact legislation to reauthorize the Ryan White CARE Act according to the principles proposed by the United States Department of Health and Human Services to provide comprehensive care for the neediest victims of HIV/AIDS.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the members of the South Carolina Congressional Delegation.
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