From: HRCFCOMM@aol.com Date: Thu, 27 Jul 1995 15:07:38 -0400 Subject: RYAN WHITE CARE ACT PASSES SENATE BY STRONG BIPARTISAN VOTE ***************************************************************** PRESS RELEASE PRESS RELEASE PRESS RELEASE THE HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN FUND The Nation's Largest Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Political Group ***************************************************************** To contact the HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN FUND, please call us at (202)628-4160, fax us at (202) 347-5323 or write to us at PO Box 1396 Washington, DC 20013. ***************************************************************** For Immediate Release July 27, 1995 RYAN WHITE CARE ACT PASSES SENATE BY STRONG BIPARTISAN VOTE Helms' Anti-Gay Efforts Thwarted by Kassebaum/Kennedy WASHINGTON -- The Ryan White CARE Act Reauthorization of 1995 -- providing essential, life-sustaining medical and support services to women, men, and children living with HIV and AIDS -- passed the U.S. Senate today by a vote of 97 to 3. Sen. Jesse Helms (R-N.C.) offered several amendments designed to gut the bill and keep gay people from receiving medical care. Helms' anti-gay attack was reversed by an amendment offered by Sens. Nancy Kassebaum (R-Kan.) and Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.). "The vote on Senator Kassebaum's amendment was a victory over Jesse Helms' efforts to gut the Ryan White CARE Act," said Elizabeth Birch, Executive Director of the Human Rights Campaign Fund. "Helms was stopped in his tracks. The Senate made a clear choice by adopting language that does not single out anybody for discrimination or exclude gay Americans from much needed medical care." When the Ryan White CARE Act passes the House, the legislation will go before a House-Senate conference committee, which will reconcile the House and Senate versions. The conference committee will be in a strong position to deliver a bill solidly focused on providing treatment to men, women, and children living with HIV and AIDS. A summary of amendment votes is listed below (bold indicates the position of the Human Rights Campaign Fund and the National Organizations Responding to AIDS): 1854 - Helms PROHIBITION/HOMOSEXUAL YES: 54 NO: 45 Prohibits funds to be used for programs that directly or indirectly "promote homosexuality," effectively denying medical care to gay people. 1858 - Kassebaum REVERSES HELMS AMENDMENT YES: 76 NO: 23 Prohibits programs that promote sexual activity or intravenous drug use but protects the delivery of essential medical and support services. 1855 - Helms FUNDING CAP YES: 32 NO: 67 Freezes Ryan White spending at FY '95 levels for five years despite rapidly growing case loads and cuts spending below level already approved by House Appropriations Committee and Senate Budget Committee. 1857-Helms FUNDING LEVEL RESTRICTIONS YES: 15 NO:84 Fails to acknowledge the epidemic nature of AIDS and the total amount of federal spending on cancer. 1856 - Helms FEDERAL WORKPLACE TRAINING YES: 99 NO: 0 Allows Federal employees to opt out of AIDS training. 1860 - Kassebaum FUNDING EQUITY PASSED VOICE VOTE Ensures that Congress considers all federal funds in ensuring equity in spending for cancer and AIDS. "Jesse Helms' amendments were extreme and born of supreme ignorance. They were based on faulty and nonsensical information. The programs Helms was attacking are not in the business of promoting sexuality -- they are in the business of saving lives," Birch said. The Ryan White CARE Act is the federal government's leading program for providing care and treatment to more than 350,000 women, men and children living with HIV and AIDS. AIDS is the leading cause of death among all Americans aged 25 to 44. A bipartisan poll of American voters commissioned by the Human Rights Campaign Fund found that 78 percent of voters support maintaining or increasing federal funding for the care of people with HIV and AIDS. The poll was cited during Senate debate on the bill. HRCF lobbyists worked closely with other HIV/AIDS advocates to gather bipartisan support for the bill and to turn back Helms' amendments. "Today's Senate action bodes well for advancing this legislation in the House," said Daniel Zingale, Political Director of the Human Rights Campaign Fund. "The bipartisan outcome of today's vote creates momentum for its final passage in the House." The Human Rights Campaign Fund (HRCF), the nation's largest lesbian and gay political organization, works to end discrimination, secure equal rights, and protect the health and safety of all Americans. With a national staff, and volunteers and members throughout the country, HRCF lobbies the federal government on lesbian, gay, and AIDS issues, educates the general public, participates in election campaigns, organizes volunteers and provides expertise and training at the state and local level. - 30 - 1101 14th Street, NW Suite 200 Washington, DC 20005 phone:(202)628-4160 fax:(202) 347-5323