HIV/AIDS

I believe we need to take bold steps to confront and eradicate AIDS and support those living with HIV. I have introduced the Early Treatment for HIV Act , which would allow states to expand Medicaid eligibility to low-income individuals living with HIV , instead of forcing them to wait until they are disabled by the disease, allowing patients access to life saving, life extending treatment and services immediately. As the Department of Health and Human Services begins to implement the reauthorized Ryan White CARE Act, I am working to ensure that such implementation is not done in a manner that jeopardizes access to care. I also am working to increase the funding for all titles of the CARE Act, to improve availability of critical AIDS treatment and support services.

The rapid spread of HIV/AIDS and its devastating consequences poses a threat not only to the United States, but also to the interests of peace and prosperity throughout the world. In the past two decades nearly 60 million people have been infected by HIV and more than 20 million women, men and children have died of AIDS worldwide. As a member of the Senate Global AIDS Taskforce, I am committed to increasing the resources available to fight this epidemic in the rest of the world. I support allocating full funding to the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), and have worked with my colleagues in the Senate to provide additional funding to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria.