President Obama Signs the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act of 2009

By Christopher Bates, Director HHS’ Office of HIV/AIDS Policy

President Barack Obama and lawmakers applaud Jeanne White-Ginder, right, mother of Ryan White, during his remarks before signing the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act of 2009 in the Diplomatic Reception Room of the White House. October 30, 2009.

Today President Obama signed the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act of 2009. In his remarks at the signing, the President said, “over the past 19 years this legislation has evolved from an emergency response into a comprehensive national program for the care and support of Americans living with HIV/AIDS. It helps communities that are most severely affected by this epidemic and often least served by our health care system, including minority communities, the LGBT community, rural communities, and the homeless. It’s often the only option for the uninsured and the underinsured. And it provides life-saving medical services to more than half a million Americans every year, in every corner of the country.”

Jeffrey Crowley, Director of the Office of National AIDS Policy and Senior Advisor on Disability Policy at the White House, wrote a blog post to commemorate this important event and honor Ryan White’s Legacy.

This means that now we can focus our attention on other matters, preparing for the drafting of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy and beginning in earnest our efforts towards lifting the Federal ban on needle exchange.

Comments

[Dan Dubli]

Great post here Christopher. I definitely agree with President Obama in signing this Act. Hopefully it'll move us closer to lifting the Federal ban on needle exchange.

[Dr Abhishek Arora]

This is monumental news for all. I especially welcome the elimination of HIV entry ban to the States.

USA leads the world when it comes to helping stem the Aids pandemic - yet it has been one of only a dozen countries that still bar people with HIV from entering our own country.

This will change al that and the apartheid that the AIDS patients had to endure. Finally we are out of the dark ages!

Hopefully the rest of the countries will follow suit.

Keep up the good work!

[huile de foie de morue]

I'm attending the United States Conference on AIDS in San Francisco where it's nearly 3,000 attendees have been rejoicing all morning on the west coast. The President's words were received as a strong and healing message on his commitment to combat the stigma and homophobia that has been systematically indoctrinated in our laws and regulations.

Several friends called from around the country and were very moved by President Obama's words and leadership. In 60 days, some of these friends can finally emerge from the shadows and begin the legal process for immigration without the implications associated with discrimination driven by HIV stigma.

[Maggie]

This is such a huge milestone. I am very glad see this administration. The House proposed a $54 million increase in the Ryan White bill. I am not for sure if the Senate appropriation committee has approved, but more funding is being allocated to the LGBT community, which is a huge feat coming from the previous administration.

[Gabrielle]

Christopher this is gold. President Obama is certainly doing a lot for positive change in the world. I am in Australia and we have legal needle exchanges here which have made a big difference to the community. It's a step in the right direction!