Porter Goss: “A majority of the House now agrees that we should provide compassionate assistance to the 8,000 victims of…”

“A majority of the House now agrees that we should provide compassionate assistance to the 8,000 victims of hemophilia-associated AIDS. The Ricky Ray Hemophilia Relief Fund Act-- which establishes a compensation program for the victims of this tragedy--now carries 219 bi-partisan cosponsors. I introduced the Ricky Ray Bill--which is named for a constituent who was 15 when he died of hemophilia-associated AIDS in 1992. We started with two dozen sponsors. But each week for the past year the support for this measure has grown thanks to the awesome grassroots participation of the victims of hemophilia-associated AIDS, their families and their friends. These folks have put aside their differences, rallied together and learned to use the legislative process to further their goals. I am extremely proud of their work and pledge to redouble my efforts to make sure this bill gets heard during this Congress. Hemophilia is an inherited blood-clotting disorder causing serious internal bleeding episodes that, if left untreated, can lead to disfigurement and even death.”