October 20, 2008

Obama Campaign Set to Boost Domestic HIV/AIDS Funding

In an October 16 conference call, Senator Barack Obama’s campaign highlighted specific strategies to fight HIV/AIDS in the United States and abroad; they included increasing funds for research, care and prevention as well as developing a national AIDS strategy within the first year of his presidency if elected, The Advocate reports.

According to Diana DeGette, vice chair of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Obama’s plan will require health insurance providers to cover everyone regardless of pre-existing conditions. They note that a proposed health plan by his rival Senator John McCain does not cover everyone, because insurers would be allowed to move into states that don’t guarantee this coverage.

“As everyone knows, this is critical to the HIV/AIDS community,” she told The Advocate.

In addition, an Obama presidency would bolster funding for the Ryan White CARE Act, which is underfunded despite the rise in the number of new infections in the United States, said Sandra Thurman, former director of the White House Office of National AIDS Policy under President Clinton. According to data released in August by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 56,300 new HIV infections were recorded in 2006, marking a 40 percent increase in annual infections from previous estimates.

“We have an epidemic here in the United States, which in many ways has not slowed down,” Thurman said. “We haven’t had an increase in support and funding that’s commensurate with the challenges that we’re facing in communities that already have serious issues to deal with.”

DeGette added that McCain has suggested enacting a spending freeze on nearly all government programs—including the Ryan White CARE Act—to help reduce the country’s deficit.

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Previous Comments:

Micheal, Atlanta, 2008-10-22 22:00:39
We got to get out and Vote for Obama...to just agree that it is great won't make it happend so get out and vote for Obama so it can become a law.

Michael, Haslett, 2008-10-21 13:59:33
I think this is a great idea, but we need to remember, as President, he could not do this. We need Congress to do it and then for him to sign it into law.

thomas bruneau, new orleans, 2008-10-21 12:51:23
koodos to OBAMA'S team for getting this out there. i dont want this to be heartless but some of you are going to say its is but the united states has a gigantic problem on our hands here at home we need to take care of our people fighting this virus here on our our soil then we can help other countrys right now other countrys are getting more help than we are here at home. how much money is being spent in iraq?. do ya'll know what we could do with that money here in the U.S.A

Debra, miami, 2008-10-21 12:42:42
IT WOULDN'T BE FAIR IF YOU TAKING THE RYAN WHITE OR ANY OTHER HEALTH CARE AWAY FROM PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF WHO HAS BEEN LIVING WITH THIS VIRUS SINCE 1989 TAKING MY HEALTH CARE AWAY FROM ME WILL KILL ME LET ALONE THE OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING WITH THIS DEADLY VIRUS! PLEASE DON'T KILL ME BEFORE THE VIRUS DOES

Daniel, Ex Dallas, 2008-10-21 12:29:05
HIV healtcare is so bad in the US, I found no alternative but to go to Europe, marry my USA partner and get healthcare in the UK, surely people must just die of HIV in the USA, maybe it's how republicans plan to control spending and kill us all off. Disgraceful, at least I saved one American, sorry I couldn't marry and save more.

Randal, Bartlett, TN, 2008-10-21 09:27:26
I am so glad to hear what Obama wants to do. It is past time for someone in power to start to think about us first or at least more than in the past. I am sure there will be many more against his policy since Insurance companies like to pick and choose whom they cover. Also, there is still the mind set that HIV/AIDS is a gay disease to rid the world of homosexuals.

Joseph Rattner, Ewa Beach, 2008-10-21 09:16:00
If John McCain gets elected, all of us long term survivors will have NOTHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO because of his ideologies and SPENDING FREEZE (INCLUDING RYAN WHITE). When will our HIVAIDS Community and epidemic become the exception to the rule as we should have so many times over the past 8 years. I hope for the best and for the future of our Country,and by supporting Barrack Obama is supporting a better life for us all. Peace and Aloha, Joseph B.Rattner West Oahu Hope For A Cure Foundation

Richard, Piedmont, 2008-10-21 08:44:19
I feel that John McCain is like President Reagan. He does not care for the people of the USA. I am glade to hear that Ryan White Care Act will get funding under Obama plan.