Bill Clinton: “In 1990, Congress enacted a law that has been a vital part of our national strategy to fight AIDS and HIV, the Ryan…”

“In 1990, Congress enacted a law that has been a vital part of our national strategy to fight AIDS and HIV, the Ryan White CARE Act, which directs support and resources to the people and places most in need throughout our Nation. It was an incredible act of compassion, smart decisionmaking, and bipartisanship. Members in this Chamber put aside politics, recognized the seriousness of the crisis, and took action. How far we have come. Unfortunately, though, the recent debate around the Ryan White CARE Act has been marred by misconceptions and mired in politics. It is time to set the record straight. First, some of my colleagues have alleged that New York receives more funding per case than the national average, suggesting that New York is somehow getting more than its fair share. But the numbers I heard being used on the Senate floor yesterday only represented part of the funding under the Ryan White CARE Act, skewing the data to make a political point. When you look at the whole picture and see the funding under the whole bill, the story is very different. According to an analysis prepared by the Communities Advocating for Emergency AIDS Relief Coalition, the CAEAR Coalition--as seen on this chart--the national per case allocation for people with AIDS is $4,745. Here is the State-by-State breakdown. New York is by no means at the top. This analysis does not even account for the higher cost of living and treatment in my State.”