Joe Barton: “I rise in support of H.R. 6143, the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Modernization Act of 2006. This legislation was…”

“I rise in support of H.R. 6143, the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Modernization Act of 2006. This legislation was introduced by Congresswoman Bono. It is the product of a year of bipartisan, bicameral negotiations. The bill reauthorizes and reforms the Ryan White program, the Federal Government's largest discretionary grant program specifically designed for people with HIV/ AIDS. We know that HIV/AIDS disproportionately affects people in poverty and racial/ethnic populations who are underserved by health care and prevention systems. We know that the most likely users of Ryan White services are persons with no or limited sources of health care. We know that Ryan White services keeps these people out of hospitals, increases their access to health care and improves their quality of life. Here is what we also know about the current Ryan White program. We know that due to outdated, hold-harmless and double-counting provisions in the current law persons are not treated similarly across this country. We know that, under the current formula, there is reportedly a 50 percent increase in funding per AIDS case for some areas of the country over other areas of the country who get no increase or little increase at all. We know that sometimes this huge inequity occurs within the same State.”