Porter Goss: “shortly I will reintroduce the Ricky Ray Hemophilia Relief Fund Act, which gained 249 cosponsors in the last Congress.…”

“shortly I will reintroduce the Ricky Ray Hemophilia Relief Fund Act, which gained 249 cosponsors in the last Congress. This bill responds to the tragedy of hemophilia-associated AIDS. In the 1980's nearly half of the hemophilia community became infected with the AIDS virus through the use of tainted blood products. About half of those, approximately 7,200 people, many of whom were children, have already died. As they did last Congress, students from Robinson Secondary School in Fairfax, VA, have visited Members' offices to lobby for this bill. These bright and articulate students belong to the Distributive Education Clubs of America, an association of high school students enrolled in marketing education courses and committed to the free enterprise system. Their efforts on behalf of the Ricky Ray bill have been impressive. I hope my colleagues will lend them an ear, cosponsor this bill, and help bring compassionate assistance to hurting victims of the hemophilia community.”