AIDS Action calls
on Congress to quickly renew the now-expired Ryan White
Act

AIDS Action, a coalition of more than 100 AIDS service organizations from across the country, is calling on Congress to quickly reauthorize the Ryan White CARE Act, which expired at midnight on September 30. Since its initial approval in 1990, the Ryan White Act, which provides federal money for HIV treatment and support services, has served hundreds of thousands of HIV-positive Americans.

"Reauthorization is essential to ensuring that everyone living with HIV and in need of care and treatment receives it," says Craig Thompson, executive director of AIDS Project Los Angeles and board chairman of the AIDS Action Council. "In addition, access to HIV/AIDS treatment and care services must be consistent. No one in need of lifesaving care and treatment should ever be without it."

Although the Ryan White Act has expired, an emergency measure keeps current funding levels in place until lawmakers can address reauthorization. AIDS experts expect a reauthorization bill to be introduced in Congress before the end of the year; it will then be debated and voted on in early 2006. (Advocate.com)