House Committee Increases Funds For Aids Treatment

The government would spend about $1.8 billion for AIDS treatment and prevention next year - 7 percent more than the president wanted - under an $80 billion spending bill approved Tuesday by a House subcommittee.

By voice vote, the House Appropriations Committee’s panel on labor and education included a $1.17 billion budget for the Ryan White AIDS Health Services treatment program in a bill funding the government’s labor, health and education programs. That’s $132 million more than President Clinton recommended and would be an increase from about $1.6 billion this year.

In contrast, lawmakers subtracted more than $12 million from the president’s request for AIDS prevention programs, allotting nearly $622 million.

Subcommittee Chairman Rep. John Edward Porter, R-Ill., said members decided to put more emphasis on treatment because of the high cost of new AIDS drugs that are prolonging the lives of people with the disease.