Bush Budget Cuts Put HIV/AIDS Patients at Risk (HR Campaign)

[struggle4progress]

... the Human Rights campaign has expressed grave concern over President Bush's lack of interest given to several HIV/AIDS prevention programs. While a few were given marginal increases, according to the HRC, several flat-lined and some even saw budget cuts.

"This budget does not reflect the concern President Bush showed during his State of the Union for HIV and AIDS care and prevention," HRC Vice President of Policy David M. Smith said in a statement to the press. "Unfortunately, the President's actions do not match his words."

Several organizations that the President mentioned by name in his State of the Union address were all but ignored, according to the HRC. The Ryan White Care Act, which provides assistance with unmet health needs for people living with HIV/AIDS, was highlighted by the president in last week’s address. Instead of receiving the $10 mullion budget increase they requested, their budget was flat-lined.

Similarly, the Center for Disease Control saw it’s HIV/AIDS research budget cut by $4 million. At the same time, the HRC says money was given to several programs promoting abstinence among teens, many of which have no backing by the scientific or medical communities. <snip>

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