RYAN WHITE CARE ACT: State Lawmakers Pass Reauthorization Resolution
With the Ryan White CARE Act set to expire Sept. 30, a resolution urging Congress to reauthorize the funds that provide vital assistance to people living with HIV/AIDS has unanimously passed through the state Legislature. Assembly Joint Resolution 47, sponsored by Assemblyman Gilbert Cedillo (D- Los Angeles) and backed by AIDS Project Los Angeles, was approved by the Assembly last week in a 66-0 vote. The Senate earlier approved the measure by a 38-0 margin. AJR 47 will now be sent to President Clinton, the congressional leadership, key congressional committees and the California congressional delegation. For the past decade, the Ryan White CARE Act has provided important medical care, treatment and support services for hundreds of thousands of low-income and uninsured HIV-positive residents nationwide. More than 44,000 Californians are living with AIDS. APLA Executive Director Craig Thompson applauded the Legislature's actions, saying, "The state Legislature's unanimous votes demonstrate the broad bipartisan support for reauthorization of a federal law that is critically important to the state of California and its residents." Thompson added, "The California Legislature has sent a powerful message to Congress and the president about the urgent need to reauthorize the CARE Act" (APLA release, 5/19).
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