2009 Ryan White Program Extension

President Obama Signs Legislation to Extend Ryan White Program (10/30/09)
Today, shortly after 12pm ET, President Obama signed the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act of 2009 to extend the program for another four years. CAEAR Coalition Chair Ernest Hopkins represented CAEAR Coalition at the ceremony, joining Ryan's mother, Jeanne White-Ginder, Congressional leaders, and colleagues from NAPWA and AIDS Action. Click here to view the President's comments. Click here to view a video of the ceremony. Click here to see the side-by-side comparison of the final legislation with the community consensus positions.

House Votes to Extend Ryan White Program (10/21/09)
The House of Representatives, by a vote of 408-9, acted to extend the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act of 2009. The House passed version matches the version passed by the Senate on Monday so it can now go to the President for signature. Click here to view the legislation. Click here to view the House report language. Click here to read comments from members of the House of Representatives during the floor debate on Ryan White extension (member comments begin on page 11528).

Obama Administration Expresses Support for Senate Bill (10/19/09)
Office of Management and Budget releases “Statement of Administration Policy” on S.  1793, strongly supports Senate passage of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act of 2009. Click here to view the statement.

House Subcommittee Acts to Extend Ryan White Program (10/14/09)
The House Energy & Commerce Committee's Heatlh Subcommittee has marked up and approved legislation to extend the Ryan White Program, with no amendments. The full Energy & Commerce Committee will vote on the legislation tomorrow. Click here to view the legislation and click here to view the section by section analysis.

CAEAR Coalition Supports Senate Legislation to Extend the Ryan White Program (10/6/09)
In a letter to Senate HELP Committee leadership, CAEAR Coalition expressed support for Senate legislation to extend the Ryan White Program, while noting its concerns with two issues. Click here to view the letter.

HRSA Reassures Community about the Future of the Ryan White Program (10/1/09)
Dr. Deborah Parham Hopson, HRSA Associate Director, has written a letter to Ryan White Program grantees to update them on the legislative status of the program, noting that the President has signed a Continuing Resolution (CR) that will keep program funding in place through October 31, 2009, while Congress works to reauthorize the program. Click here to view the letter.

Senate HELP Committee Acts to Extend the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (9/30/09)
On the day of its expiration, the Senate HELP Committee took an important step toward extending the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program by unanimously voting in favor of legislation to extend the program for four years. Click here to view the legislation and click here to view CAEAR Coalition's side-by-side analysis. Remarks made by HELP Committee Chairman Tom Harkin can be viewed here. The bill requires approval by the full Senate, as well as negotiations with the House, which also needs to pass a bill. The full Senate is also scheduled to vote today on a 30-day Continuing Resolution that includes a provision to extend the Program through October.

31 Senators Sign "Dear Colleague" Letter on Ryan White Extension (9/18/09)
Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) delivered a letter to the leadership of the Senate HELPCommittee co-signed by 30 of his colleagues calling for a three-year extension of the Ryan White Program with changes recommended in the community consensus document. Click here to view the letter, with signatures.

Draft Extension Legislation Discussed at House Hearing (9/9/09)
The Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee held a hearing to discuss draft House legislation to extend the Ryan White Program. Panelists included HRSA Administrator Dr. Mary Wakefield (testimony); Dr. Marcia Crosse, Health Care Director for the GAO (testimony); NASTAD Executive Director Julie Scofield (testimony); and Dr. Donna Elaine Sweet of the University of Kansas and Board Chair of the American Academy of HIV Medicine (testimony). Chairman Waxman also delivered opening remarks, as did Chairman Pallone (remarks). Members of the community were in attendance, including CAEAR Coalition Board Chair Ernest Hopkins and dozens of advocates from Baltimore, who spent the day on the Hill urging a three-year extension. Click here for details. 

Over 70 House Members Sign "Dear Colleague" Letter Urging Three-Year Extension (9/8/09)
Today, Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA) delivered a letter to the leadership of the Energy and Commerce Committee co-signed by 72 of his colleagues calling for a three-year extension of the Ryan White Program with changes recommended in the community consensus document. Click here to view the letter, with signatures. [Rep. George Miller (D-CA) signed the letter as it was being delivered so his name does not appear in the pdf version.]

Boston Mayor Thomas Menino Urges Action on Ryan White Extension (9/2/09)
Mayor Benino has written to the entire Massachusetts Congressional delegation to urge immediate action to extend the Ryan White Program for three years and to amend the legislation to reflect the community consensus positions.

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg Urges Congressional Leaders to Act on Ryan White Extension (8/28/09)
Noting that the New York City Ryan White Part A Eligible Metropolitan Area has less than 3 percent of the U.S. population, but is home to 14.4 percent of living AIDS cases, Mayor Bloomberg wrote to the leaders of the Senate and House of Representatives urging their support for the three-year extension of the program. Click here to read the letter.

Baltimore Consumer Advocates Call for Ryan White Extension in YouTube Videos (8/21/09)
Lifelinc has posted some wonderful YouTube videos showing their PWA advocates calling for Ryan White Program extension. Click here to view one of the videos, and for links to over ten others.

Ryan White Program Leaders in New York Urge Program's Extension (8/18/09)
The Community Co-Chair of the New York HIV Health Services Planning Council, Soraya Elcock, wrote to Sen. Gillibrand and Sen. Schumer and the 14 members of Congress that represent Ryan White clients and providers in the New York City EMA - Reps.Ackerman, Clarke, Crowley, Engel, Lowey, Maloney, McMahon, Meeks, Nadler, Rangel, Serrano, Towns, Velazquez, and Weiner - to urge swift extension of the Ryan White Program. Click here to see an example of the letter.

Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley Calls for Action on Ryan White Program (8/17/09)
Martin O'Malley, Governor of Maryland, wrote to Maryland Sen. Cardin and Sen. Mikulski and to Majority Leader Hoyer and the entire Maryland Congressional delegation to urge action on the Ryan White Program. Click here to read the letters.

Ryan White Program Leaders in Texas Urge Program's Extension (8/15/09)
The Chair of the North Central Texas Planning Council, Sylvia Alonzo Rawlings, wrote to both Texas Senators and the 9 members of Congress that represent Ryan White clients and providers in the Fort Worth/Arlington TGA, including Joe Barton, Ranking Minority Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, to urge swift extension of the Ryan White Program. Click here to see an example of the letter.

Members of Illinois' Congressional Delegation Call for Ryan White Extension (7/28/09)
In a letter to the leadership of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, six members of the Illinois Congressional delegation urged a swift extension of the Ryan White Program that addresses concerns of Ryan White clients and frontline providers in their state.

Bergen County, NJ, Passes Resolution Supporting Community Consensus Document (7/15/09)
The Bergen County Board of Chosen Freeholders in New Jersey unanimously voted to sign on to the HIV/AIDS Community Consensus on the Future of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Modernization Act. Click here to view the resolution.

CAEAR Coalition Signs Community Consensus Document (3/3/09)
CAEAR Coalitioned has signed on to the HIV/AIDS Community Consensus on the Future of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Modernization Act, developed by the Federal AIDS Policy Partnership (FAPP) Ryan White Work Group. Click here to view the document with most recent list of signatures.

Ryan White Leaders in Texas Call for Program Extension (11/17/08)
The chief elected officials of all five Ryan White Part A jurisdictions in Texas have called for a three-year extension of the Ryan White Program. Click here to view their joint letter to Sen. Kennedy (D-MA).

2006 Ryan White Program Reauthorization
President Bush Signs the Ryan White White HIV/AIDS Treatment Modernization Act of 2006 (12/19/06)
Today President Bush signed the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Modernization Act of 2006, following House action on 12/9 and Senate action on 12/6. Click here for the full text of the bill, and for Kaiser Family Foundation's side-by-side analysis.

CAEAR Coalition Urges Additional Funding for Proposed New Title I EMAs (11/03/06)
CAEAR Coalition sent a letter to key authorizers and appropriators seeking $18.8 million to fund five jurisdictions expected to join Title I following reauthorization.

Unified Community Statement and Concerns on Latest Reauthorization Draft (9/11/06)
Eight national and regional AIDS organizations, including CAEAR Coalition, delivered a joint statement to Congressional staff leading the CARE Act reauthorization process outlining concerns with a draft bill released on September 7. Areas of concern include Hold Harmless; Funding Issues; Title I Tier II Eligibility; Title II Consortia Support; the Early Diagnosis Grant Program; and Data Concerns.

CAEAR Releases Recommendations on Latest Reauthorization Bill (5/24/06)
At a May 24 House roundtable, CAEAR Coalition released its recommendations for the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Modernization Act of 2006.

Senators Circulate Dear Colleague Letter in Support of CAEAR's CARE Act Funding Analysis (5/5/06)
Eight Senators circulated a letter to their Senate colleagues urging them to review CAEAR Coalition's comprehensive analysis of CARE Act funding.

CAEAR Coalition Analysis Shows Broad CARE Act Funding Equity (4/25/06)
A CAEAR Coalition analysis of CARE Act funding that is inclusive of all CARE Act programs demonstrates broad funding equity to U.S. states and territories. Click here to read CAEAR's related press release.

CAEAR Responds to Senator Coburn's CARE Act Reauthorization Bill (2/28/06)
Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) has introduced a bill to reauthorize and amend the Ryan White CARE Act. Click here to see CAEAR Coalition's press release.

Prominent Muncipal Government Groups Issue Joint Letter in Support of Reauthorization and key CAEAR Coalition Positions (2/23/06)
The U.S. Conference of Mayors, National League of Cities, and National Association of Counties today sent a joint letter to Congressional leadership that lays out shared positions on several key CARE Act reauthorization topics.

CAEAR Coalition Briefs Key Congressional Staff (1/19/06)
CAEAR Coalition representatives briefed Republican and Democratic staff members of the House and Senate committees responsible for Ryan White CARE Act reauthorization, as a part of the committees’ outreach to HIV/AIDS organizations. CAEAR’s presentation ( ppt; pdf) highlighted the organization’s participation in the Ryan White Legislative Group and focused on key recommendations designed to strengthen CARE Act’s ability to serve those in greatest need and provide life-saving and life-extending services to people living with HIV/AIDS. In response to questions from Congressional staff, CAEAR drafted a paper on the 80/20 funding provision in Title II.

CAEAR Coalition Releases Proposal to Strengthen ADAP (1/18/06)
At its December membership meeting, CAEAR Coalition approved a proposal developed by the organization's ADAP Caucus to strengthen the AIDS Drug Assistance Program in Title II of the CARE Act as a part of the reauthorization.

The CARE Act Has Expired (10/7/05)
CAEAR Coalition recently sent a memo to its members regarding the CARE Act's September 30 expiration to assure them that there will be no immediate impact on services and to ask them to contact their Congressional leaders to urge swift reauthorization of the act.

CAEAR Coalition and Allies Salute CHC Session on Reauthorization (10/6/05)
CAEAR Coalition, along with National Minority AIDS Council and AIDS Alliance for Children, Youth & Families, released a press statement thanking members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus who delivered a series of floor speeches in the House of Representatives urging reauthorization of the CARE Act.

CAEAR Coalition and Allies Salute CBC Session on Reauthorization (9/28/05)
CAEAR Coalition, along with National Minority AIDS Council and AIDS Alliance for Children, Youth & Families, released a press statement thanking members of the Congressional Black Caucus who delivered a series of floor speeches in the House of Representatives urging reauthorization of the CARE Act.

CAEAR Coalition Releases Response to Bush Administration's Reauthorization Principles (8/29/05)
CAEAR Coalition released a detailed response to the reauthorization principles released by the Administration in late July that highlights areas of agreement and opposition to the principles and reiterates the need for the reauthorized CARE Act to maintain a strong commitment to urban, rural and underserved communities nationwide.

CAEAR Coalition Statement on Administration's Reauthorization Principles (7/27/05)
CAEAR Coalition released a statement that commends the President for paying attention to the growing domestic HIV epidemic, while urging stakeholders to work toward reauthorizing the CARE Act by September 30th.

CAEAR Coalition Submits Testimony for Senate Reauthorization Hearing (7/1/05)
CAEAR Coalition called for swift reauthorization of the Ryan White CARE Act in testimony submitted to the Senate Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, and International Security of the Committee on Homeland Security and Government Reform for the record of the Subcommittee’s June 23rd hearing. The testimony also calls for modernization of the mechanisms used for distributing CARE Act funds, including accelerating reductions under the Title I hold-harmless provision and switching to a national HIV/AIDS data set.

CAEAR Coalition Commends Senate Subcommittee for Jumpstarting the 2005 CARE Act Reauthorization Process (6/24/05)
CAEAR Coalition released a press release supporting the bipartisan spirit of the hearing on the Ryan White CARE Act reauthorization conducted on June 23, 2005, by the Senate Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, and International Security of the Committee on Homeland Security and Government Reform.

Local Leaders Urge Early Reauthorization of the CARE Act (3/14/05)
The United States Conference of Mayors, National League of Cities, and National Association of Counties sent a joint letter to the Senate HELP Committee leadership urging early passage of the Ryan White CARE Act reauthorization. The letter also called for increased funding for Title I and Title III of the CARE Act. In the letter, the organizations wrote, “it is essential that the CARE Act be reauthorized and sufficient resources be allocated to cities to address new challenges in the HIV/AIDS epidemic and maintain existing continuum of life-saving care and prevention services.”

CAEAR Coalition and AIDS Action Release Policy Recommendations for CARE Act Reauthorization (2/16/05)
CAEAR Coalition and AIDS Action’s joint Policy Recommendations for Ryan White CARE Act Reauthorization offers recommendations to strengthen the ability of CARE Act-funded programs to respond to the needs of people living with HIV/AIDS. Click here to download the press release announcing the release. Click here to download all related materials

CAEAR Coalition and AIDS Action Release Policy Position Paper (2/16/05)
CAEAR Coalition and AIDS Action’s joint reauthorization position paper (pdf symbol) offers recommendations to strengthen the ability of CARE Act-funded programs to respond to the needs of people living with HIV/AIDS.

CAEAR Coalition Statement on State of the Union Address (2/3/05)
CAEAR Coalition Applauds President Bush's Call for CARE Act Reauthorization and Urges President and Congress to Increase Funding. Download here .

Senator Enzi Named Chair of Senate HELP Committee (1/4/05)
The Senate Republican Conference selected Senator Mike Enzi (R-WY) as the new Chairman of the Senate HELP Committee, which is responsible for the reauthorization of the Ryan White CARE Act in the Senate.

CAEAR Coalition and AIDS Action Release Joint Reauthorization Principles (6/04)
As an initial step towards developing a joint CARE Act reauthorization initiative, CAEAR Coalition and AIDS Action developed Joint Reauthorization Principles to guide efforts to develop policy positions on reauthorization.

CAEAR Coalition Chair Patricia Bass Testifies on CARE Act Reauthorization (9/12/03)
CAEAR Coalition Chair Patricia Bass outlined priority issues for CARE Act reauthorization in testimony before the Ryan White CARE Act Reauthorization Workgroup of the CDC/HRSA Advisory Committee on HIV and STD Prevention and Care

CAEAR Coalition Urges Strong Working Relationship with Senate and House Committee Chairs (9/12/03)
CAEAR Coalition initiated its Congressional reauthorization efforts with outreach letters to the Chairs of the Senate HELP Committee and the House Commerce Committee .