Congress must
reauthorize Ryan White Act, gay Republicans plead

If Congress doesn't reauthorize the Ryan White CARE Act by October 1, thousands of HIV-patients will suffer, says the gay political group Log Cabin Republicans.

The group is calling upon Congress to reauthorize the act, which provides lifesaving assistance to tens of thousands of Americans suffering from HIV/AIDS. If the act--named for Ryan White, who died of AIDS complications--is not reauthorized, states could see significant funding cuts in their HIV programs. Log Cabin claims that President Bush has called on Congress several times to reauthorize and reform the act.

"Delaying reauthorization will cause great uncertainty for states and real worry for those who depend on the CARE Act for survival," said Log Cabin executive vice president Patrick Sammon in a statement. "Now is the time to act." (The Advocate)