John Shaw: “I strongly support H.R. 1023, the ``Ricky Ray Hemophilia Relief Fund Act of 1998.'' H.R. 1023, sponsored by my friend…”

“I strongly support H.R. 1023, the ``Ricky Ray Hemophilia Relief Fund Act of 1998.'' H.R. 1023, sponsored by my friend Porter Goss, is named for Ricky Ray, a 15 year old Florida hemophiliac who died in 1992. This bill represents the best of what government can do to help needy families struggling to overcome personal tragedy. From some, including for the bill's namesake, H.R. 1023 comes too late to provide help. But for many others it will provide welcome relief, and I am proud not only to be an original cosponsor, but also to have helped H.R. 1023 progress through the Ways and Means Committee to the House floor today. Even though the bill was first marked up by the Judiciary Committee, an important component is the promise H.R. 1023 would keep by continuing Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits to needy individuals, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Committee on Ways and Means and the Subcommittee on Human Resources that I chair. These critical benefits will remain available despite a recent settlement and also new federal funds that otherwise would disqualify hemophiliacs who contracted the AIDS virus through tainted blood products in the 1980s from continued SSI eligibility. There is ample precedent for SSI to ignore such payments, and I can scarcely think of a more worthy class than this limited number of hemophiliacs, many of them children at the time, who have been afflicted with the AIDS virus.”