Health - HIV / AIDS

HIV / AIDS

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September 28, 2006
Rep. Waxman Reluctantly Opposes the Ryan White Reauthorization Act to Protect Funding Vital to California
On the House floor, Rep. Waxman reluctantly opposes H.R. 6143, “Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Modernization Act of 2006” which jeopardizes funding for critical HIV/AIDS care and treatment programs in California.

September 22, 2006
Rep. Waxman Presses for Explanation of CDC’s Failure to Update HIV Compendium
Rep. Waxman sends follow up letters to HHS and CDC regarding CDC’s inadequate response to his query about the HIV Compendium. The Compendium, a key compilation of evidence-based prevention measures, has not been updated since its 1999 release, although government experts have identified multiple new proven programs.

May 30, 2006
Rep. Waxman Requests Update to HIV Compendium
Rep. Waxman writes to CDC Director Gerberding to ask why in seven years the agency has failed to update a crucial document identifying HIV prevention programs that have been shown to reduce risk behaviors and HIV transmission.

April 27, 2006
Reauthorization of the Ryan White CARE Act is Crucial for Vulnerable Citizens
At a hearing of the House Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Health, Rep. Waxman urges reauthorization of the Ryan White CARE Act. The programs funded by this Act have literally been lifesavers for people who live with the HIV virus. It has provided critical support to cities that have been the center of the epidemic and to States funding critical drug programs to treat the disease.

April 4, 2006
GAO Report Reveals Serious Shortcomings in U.S. Approach to Global AIDS Crisis
Rep. Waxman writes to Secretary Rice asking her for changes in the Administration's implementation of the abstinence spending requirement -- which GAO finds is posing challenges to prevention efforts in countries most hard-hit by the AIDS epidemic -- and calling for congressional reconsideration of the requirement.

March 16, 2006
Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS Program Addresses Needs of Vulnerable Citizens
Rep. Waxman joined his colleagues in expressing his support for $424 million in funding for the Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS (HOPWA) program, which is the only federal housing program that specifically provides cities and states with the resources to address the housing crisis facing people living with AIDS.

March 15, 2006
The Bush Administration Is Undermining International Needle Exchange Efforts
Reps. Waxman and Cummings write to Secretary of State Rice expressing concern that the Administration has presented “a distorted picture of the science” to European Union officials on the effectiveness of needle-exchange program in reducing the spread of AIDS.

January 27, 2006
Democrats Protest Ideological Campaign Against HIV/AIDS Prevention Grantees
In a letter to the Secretary of State, Rep. Waxman, Sen. Durbin, and other leading Democrats object to certain conservative politicians' ideologically-driven efforts to defund HIV/AIDS prevention grantees in the developing world.

September 1, 2005
Roberts Should Be Questioned on AIDS Advice
Rep. Waxman asks Sens. Specter and Leahy to question Supreme Court Nominee John G. Roberts about his role advising President Reagan not to provide the best scientific information to the public during a time of fear and panic over whether children with AIDS should go to school.

June 24, 2005
Rep. Waxman Asks Rice to Support Evidence-based Needle Exchange
In a letter to Secretary Rice, Rep. Waxman asks her to stop efforts to remove references to needle exchange programs from an important UN document on HIV prevention.

May 25, 2005
Needle Exchange Programs Widely Endorsed by Scientific and Medical Organizations
Rep. Waxman wrote to ONDCP Director John Walters providing a wide range of scientific and medical expert opinions supporting needle exchange programs to prevent the spread of infectious
diseases.

May 20, 2005
Increase in Funding Needed for AIDS Drug Assistance Programs
Rep. Waxman joined his colleagues in requesting an increase of $303 million in Fiscal Year 2006 for AIDS Drug Assistance Programs under the Ryan White CARE Act.

May 12, 2005
Funding Requested for Minority AIDS Initiative
Rep. Waxman joined his colleagues in requesting $610 million in Fiscal Year 2006 for the Minority AIDS Initiative.

April 27, 2005
Funding Requested for Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria
Rep. Waxman joined his colleagues in requesting that $1.5 billion of a $6.7 billion call for funding for global AIDS programs go directly to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria.

April 13, 2005
President Urged to Reject Pledge Requirements in HIV/AIDS Funding
Rep. Waxman asks the President to direct federal agencies not to condition the receipt of global AIDS or anti-trafficking funds by U.S.-based organizations on the signing of a pledge condemning prostitution.

March 18, 2005
Funding Needed for the Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS Program
Rep. Waxman joined with many of his colleagues to request that $385 million be appropriated for the HOPWA program for Fiscal Year 2006.

February 18, 2005
Chairmen Davis and Souder Mischaracterize Report's Position on Needle Exchange
In letters to Secretary of State Rice and USAID Administrator Natsios, Reps. Waxman and Cummings clarify the International Narcotics Control Board's position on the efficacy of needle exchange programs. Chairmen Davis and Souder had mischaracterized the report in previous correspondence.

February 15, 2005
AIDS Grant Awarded for 'Non-Suitable' Proposal
A politically well connected organization that promotes abstinence education has received a major federal grant under the President’s AIDS program despite its proposal having been rated "not suitable for funding" by an independent review panel.

January 26, 2005
President Urged to Assure Purchase of Safe and Effective Generic Drugs
Citing a new GAO report, Sen. Kennedy and Rep. Waxman urge the President not to squander the historic opportunity to use inexpensive, safe, and effective drugs to fight the epidemic in the developing world.

January 7, 2005
U.S. Health Officials Asked About Support for Global Statement on HIV/AIDS Prevention
Rep. Waxman and nine other members of Congress ask CDC, NIAID, USAID, and the White House Global AIDS Coordinator if they support a consensus statement on the prevention of sexual transmission of HIV recently signed by more than 130 religious, political, health and scientific leaders from across the developed and developing world.

December 9, 2004
Questions on AIDS Prevention Spending
Rep. Waxman requests a GAO investigation into AIDS prevention activities funded by the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).

July 8, 2004
Administration Delaying Approval of Life-Saving HIV Drugs
A new analysis by Rep. Waxman reveals that despite its public promises of quick action, the Administration is unnecessarily delaying the rapid approval of combination HIV therapies for use in Africa and other developing regions.

June 30, 2004
GlaxoSmithKline Withdrawal Undermines HIV Research in Africa
Rep. Waxman urges the pharmaceutical manufacturer to reconsider its decision to withdraw from a major NIH-sponsored HIV clinical trial, an action that is undermining efforts to determine how to treat millions of people infected with HIV around the world.

June 17, 2004
HHS Experts: Funding Increase Urgently Needed for HIV/AIDS Drug Program
In a letter to HHS, Democratic Leader Pelosi, Democratic Whip Hoyer, Rep. Waxman, Rep. Frank, Rep. Sherrod Brown, Del. Christensen, Rep. Lee and Rep. Baldwin make Secretary Thompson aware of his own agency's conclusion that an HIV/AIDS drug program for Americans lacking adequate health insurance urgently needs significantly more funding.

May 19, 2004
NIH Asked to Review Syringe Exchange Program as HIV Reduction Measure
Rep. Waxman and Rep. Cummings ask NIH Director Zerhouni to review the evidence on syringe exchange programs and other harm reduction measures to reduce the spread of HIV and other bloodborne diseases. UPDATE -- On Oct. 7, 2004, Dr. Zerhouni sent a response indicating that these measures “can be an effective public health approach” to reduce infectious disease transmission.

May 11, 2004
Administration Urged To Drop Roadblocks to Low-Cost, Effective HIV Combination Therapies
In a letter to the President, Rep. Waxman details Administration actions that have unnecessarily delayed and complicated the delivery of highly recommended, life-saving HIV therapies to developing regions.

May 4, 2004
Additional Federal Funding for HIV/AIDS Drug Program Urgently Needed
In a letter to HHS, Democratic Leader Pelosi, Democratic Whip Hoyer, Rep. Waxman, Rep. Frank, Rep. Sherrod Brown, Del. Christensen, Rep. Lee and Rep. Baldwin again write Secretary Thompson to emphasize the urgent need for additional federal funding for an HIV/AIDS drug program for Americans lacking adequate health insurance.

March 26, 2004
Administration Impeding Access to Life-Saving HIV Therapies in Africa, Other Developing Regions
Rep. Waxman objects to proposed drug approval standards, being circulated by the Administration for consideration at a conference next week in Botswana, that could block the use of the low-cost drugs needed to save the lives of millions of people living with HIV in Africa and other developing regions.

February 5, 2004
Budget Asks for Fraction of Needed AIDS Funding Increase
Eight members call on the Administration to ensure that a new CDC initiative will not leave thousands of Americans with an HIV diagnosis but without access to life saving drugs.

October 27, 2003
HHS May Use Audits to Harass Safe-Sex Groups
Rep. Waxman expresses continuing concern that HHS may be using audits to penalize groups who do not adhere to the Administration's abstinence-only approach to sex education.

August 11, 2003
New Policy Requires Additional Layer of Review for HIV/AIDS Prevention Efforts
In a letter to HHS Secretary Thompson, Democratic Leader Pelosi, Democratic Whip Hoyer, and Rep. Waxman urge the Secretary to reconsider a new CDC policy that requires HIV/AIDS prevention efforts to undergo an additional layer of review prior to distribution, changes which threaten to increase the burden on state and local health departments at a time when public health budgets are strained.

June 11, 2003
President Urged to Reverse Decision to Fund Anthrax Vaccine with Resources Devoted to HIV/AIDS, Other Health Threats
Senator Bingaman and Rep. Waxman urge President Bush to reverse the decision to fund the development of a new anthrax vaccine by robbing funds currently devoted to finding cures for HIV/AIDS, West Nile Virus, SARS, and other serious public health threats.

May 23, 2003
Administration Urged to Take Evidence-Based Approach to HIV/AIDS Prevention
Democratic Leader Pelosi and Rep. Waxman urge the Administration to take an evidence-based approach in their new HIV/AIDS prevention strategy and not be influenced by those who may be trying to politicize science and public health policy.