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"We have seen a significant decline in deaths from HIV and AIDS in the last several years, but we must continue to broaden our efforts in HIV/AIDS prevention, especially in communities of color, which still suffer disproportionately from infant mortality and AIDS," said Secretary Shalala. "This new program will go a long way toward delivering innovative HIV/AIDS care for to those in the border area who need it so desperately."

The Secretary's announcement coincides with a two-day tour of the California-U.S. Mexico border area by HRSA's senior leadership to see first-hand how the agency's cross-cutting U.S.-Mexico Border Health Program can improve the health of border residents.

Four grants totaling $2 million for each of the five years - one to an organization in each of the four border states of Arizona, California, New Mexico and Texas -- will be awarded in May 2000. An additional $200,000 for each of the five years will fund an evaluation center to provide technical assistance to the four demonstration projects.

"It's appropriate that we are announcing this new program on December 1, which is World AIDS Day," said HRSA administrator Dr. Claude Earl Fox "As our U.S.-Mexico border populations have increased, so too has the number of individuals affected by HIV/AIDS. In an area of the country where access to care is severely limited by poverty, lack of education, isolation, cultural diversity and other barriers to quality care, these grants will support more innovative and effective ways to deliver HIV care."

The $11 million program is a joint effort of two of HRSA's bureaus and its Office of Field Operations. The HIV/AIDS Bureau is contributing a total of $9 million for the four demonstration projects ($1.6 million per year) and $1 million for the evaluation center ($200,000 per year). The grants are funded under the Special Projects of National Significance Program of the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency (CARE) Act, administered by the bureau. The CARE Act, enacted in 1990 and reauthorized in 1996, provides primary care and support services to low-income, uninsured and underinsured individuals and families affected by HIV disease. The SPNS

Program serves hard-to-reach, underserved individuals by funding innovative HIV/AIDS programs that help improve access to care. Since FY 1991, the CARE Act has awarded more than $6.3 billion to provide quality care and support services for individuals and families affected by HIV/AIDS. The FY 1999 appropriation was $1.4 billion.

HHS also has several other initiatives underway designed to attack HIV/AIDS more broadly in Hispanic and other racial and ethnic minority communities. Last year, for example, in response to the severe and ongoing crisis regarding HIV/AIDS in racial and ethnic minority communities, HHS joined President Clinton in announcing a special package of initiatives in fiscal year 1999 aimed at reducing the disproportionate burden of HIV/AIDS on people of color, especially Latinos and African-Americans. This initiative will address physical and mental health needs, as well as issues related to substance abuse prevention and treatment, and mental health services.

Overall, funding for AIDS-related programs within HHS has increased by 122 percent over the last six years, with funding for AIDS care under the Ryan White CARE Act increasing by 292 percent and assistance for AIDS drugs increasing by 854 percent. In addition, the Clinton Administration, working with the Congressional Black Caucus, has committed $246 million to fund the President's initiative to improve the nation's effectiveness in preventing and treating HIV/AIDS in minority communities.

The U.S.-Mexico border region is more than 2,000 miles long, stretching from San Ysidro, CA, to Brownsville, Texas, and extends 62 miles north of the border into the United States. The border area consists of 48 counties in four states-some of which are among the poorest in the country. More than one-third of U.S. border families live at or below the poverty line, and the unemployment rate is 250-300 percent higher than in the rest of the U.S.

HRSA established the U.S.-Mexico Border Health Program in August 1996 to more effectively address the severe lack of access to primary health care in this rapidly growing region.

Applications for the new grant program are available on HRSA's Web site at forms.psc.gov/phsforms.htm or by calling the HRSA Grants Application Center at 1-877-477-2123.

RADIO STATIONS NOTE: Actualities on World AIDS Day are available on the HHS Radio Line at 1-800-621-2984. An actuality of HRSA administrator Dr. Claude Earl Fox regarding the border health grants and World AIDS Day is available on the internet at: www.hhs.gov/news/press/1999pres/mex.wav.

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