AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) has praised Congress’ budget deal, noting that the governmental body “made several noteworthy bipartisan commitments in their support for domestic HIV/AIDS programming,” according to its website.
Among the aspects of funds that AFC lauded are:
—Ensuring integrity of all aspects of Ryan White funding with no cuts or consolidation;
—Restoring proposed cuts to Special Projects of National Significance (SPNS) and the Minority AIDS Initiative (MAI);
—Funding increases to hepatitis C (HCV) prevention, Housing Opportunities for People Living With HIV/AIDS (HOPWA) and MAI; and
—New language that supports the use of federal funds for syringe exchange activities that do not involve the actual purchase of syringes.
AFC also stated that many of these initiative support the National HIV/AIDS Strategy Updated to 2020 (www.aids.gov/federal-resources/national-hiv-aids-strategy/overview/). However, noting the continuing state-budget impasse, AFC is asking state legislators to pass a positive budget that the federal dollars can complement.