Subject: HRC Welcomes Passage of Ryan White CARE Act
From: [email-masked]
Date: Fri, 3 May 1996 16:53:02 -0400

________________________________________________________

NEWS from the
Human Rights Campaign

1101 14th Street NW
Washington, DC 20005
email:  [email-masked]
WWW:    http://www.hrcusa.org
________________________________________________________

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, May 3, 1996

HRC WELCOMES PASSAGE OF RYAN WHITE CARE ACT

But Opposes Mandatory HIV Testing 
As Poor Public Health Policy

GO TO HRC'S WEBSITE FOR 
MORE INFORMATION AT
http://www.hrcusa.org

WASHINGTON -- The Human Rights Campaign expressed relief today
that Congress has finally passed the Ryan White CARE Act, a 
long-overdue measure that will provide $738 million for the care
and treatment of people with HIV and AIDS.
     "This money is desperately needed in the provider community,
which has been struggling to manage ever-increasing caseloads at
last year's funding levels," said Winnie Stachelberg, HRC's
senior health policy advocate.
     The bill passed the House on Wednesday night by a vote of
402-4. A day later, it passed the Senate unanimously. President
Clinton is expected to sign it next week.
     The Human Rights Campaign played a key role in nullifying an
amendment to the bill, proposed by anti-gay Sen. Jesse Helms,
R-N.C., to prohibit federal funds from going to gay organizations
that "encourage or promote homosexuality."  
     "This was a vindictive, discriminatory measure, considering
that a large number of organizations providing care to people
with HIV and AIDS are based in the gay and lesbian community,"
said Stachelberg, who is also co-chair of National Organizations
Responding to AIDS.
     The Helms  amendment was replaced by language proposed by
Sen. Nancy Kassebaum, R-Kan., that prohibits the use of Ryan
White money to directly promote intravenous drug use or sexual
activity, either hetero- or homosexual.
     HRC vigorously opposed a provision of the bill that directs
states to institute mandatory HIV testing of newborns if states
cannot demonstrate by the year 2000 that they have significantly
reduced mother-to-child HIV transmission. However, that provision
is mitigated somewhat by a provision of the bill promoting
voluntary HIV counseling and testing for pregnant women as part
of their prenatal care.
     "Mandatory testing is the wrong response to the problem, and
we will continue to fight against it," Stachelberg said. "Instead
of attracting women and children to seek health care, mandatory
testing drives women and children away."
     Groups ranging from the National Governors Association to
the American Academy of Pediatrics to the American Medical
Association also oppose mandatory testing of newborns.
     The Human Rights Campaign is the largest national lesbian
and gay political organization, with members throughout the
country. It effectively lobbies Congress, provides campaign
support and educates the public to ensure that lesbian and gay
Americans can be open, honest and safe at home, at work and in
the community.

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