Biden Aims to Boost HIV Funding By $267 Million
Lawmakers, advocates want to reduce HIV infections by at least 90 percent by 2030
BY TAT BELLAMY-WALKER
The Biden administration
is proposing a $267 million
increase in funding
for HIV testing, prevention,
and treatment programs in
the US, according to the administration’s
discretionary funding
request.
In the fi scal 2022 budget, the
Biden administration aims to go
further than the plan put forth by
former President Donald Trump —
who sought to cut HIV/AIDS funding
on multiple fronts — to reduce
the number of HIV infections by
at least 90 percent by 2030. This
funding would come as an addition
to the $400 million Congress
allocated to the Ending the HIV
Epidemic initiative, which seeks to
eradicate disparities in accessing
HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention,
including the expansion of
The Biden administration is seeking to increase funds for HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment programs.
PrEP, a pill to prevent HIV.
Last year, Congress granted a
$137 million increase for the second
year of the Ending the HIV
Epidemic initiative. If Biden’s budget
request is approved, HIV/AIDS
REUTERS/KEVIN LAMARQUE
prevention, education, and treatment
programs would surpass the
last administration with a total of
$670 million.
Plus, the administration is calling
for an increase of funds toward
HEALTH
the CDC, the Health Resources
and Services Administration, the
Indian Health Service, and the National
Institutes of Health.
While some experts are praising
the efforts, they noted that more
funding is needed.
“We thank President Biden for
demonstrating his commitment to
ending HIV in the United States by
including this substantial funding
increase in his budget to ramp up
the Ending the HIV Epidemic Initiative,”
Carl Schmid, executive director
of the HIV+Hepatitis Policy
Institute, a group advocating for
affordable healthcare for people
living with HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis,
said in a written statement.
“While it falls short of what the
community has requested if this
funding is realized, it will continue
the momentum already created
and make further progress in ending
HIV in the US.”
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