Christopher Shays: “We are talking about AIDS research. My colleague is right in saying that we have spent a great deal of money on AIDS…”

“We are talking about AIDS research. My colleague is right in saying that we have spent a great deal of money on AIDS research, without the kind of payback we would like. We then talk about AIDS services and the Ryan White funds, to respond to that in a very sincere and serious way. Where we have a deficiency is housing for people with AIDS. We are housing people in hospitals at $1,000 a day instead of $100 or less for people with AIDS in housing for people with AIDS. This is what this amendment is attempting to address. I want to say to my colleague, the gentleman from California [Mr. Lewis], I do not know of any greater champion on this issue. He has taken a hit he does not deserve. The purpose of this amendment brought forth by many people is in no way to embarrass Mr. Lewis, because, frankly, he is not deserving of some of the criticism he has received.”