The beginning of the 110th Congress saw a number of HIV/AIDS bills introduced, largely by members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) and other Democrats. The legislative history of these bills is varied, with some having passed one house of Congress and others still awaiting their first hearing. The San Francisco AIDS Foundation is working to ensure passage of the following legislation:

• H.R. 3326/S.860, “The Early Treatment for HIV Act,” originally sponsored by Speaker Pelosi and now sponsored by Congressman Elliot Engel (D-NY) and Senator Gordon Smith (R-OR)
• H.R. 2058/S.1103, “Helping Fill the Medicare Rx Gap Act of 2007,” sponsored by Congressman Rush Holt (D-NJ) and Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-AZ)
• H.R. 1713, “Protection against Transmission of HIV for Women and Youth Act of 2007,” sponsored by Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA), which seeks to reauthorize the global President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) with important changes to its HIV prevention components

Congresswoman Lee has several other bills under consideration that focus on domestic HIV/AIDS: H.R. 1653, “Responsible Education About Life (REAL) Act”; H.R. 178, “The Justice Act of 2007”; and H.R. 3337, “The HIV Nondiscrimination in Travel and Immigration Act of 2007.”

Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) has also introduced important legislation under review. Of these and other bills mentioned above, H.R. 1943, “The Stop AIDS in Prison Act,” is the only HIV/AIDS legislation that has passed the House of Representatives in this session. Congresswoman Waters also introduced H.R. 822, “Routine HIV/AIDS Screening Coverage Act of 2007.”

Finally, “The National HIV/AIDS Elimination Act” is a legislative effort co-sponsored by members of the CBC, key Black Protestant clergy, and the National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS. This legislation would incorporate a number of the policy and funding objectives of the freestanding bills already introduced by CBC members and combine them with additional objectives identified by the National Medical Association and African American HIV/AIDS policy and advocacy organizations. The Elimination Act will be introduced in the 110th Congress, with the goal of passage during the next administration and the 111th Congress. The San Francisco AIDS Foundation supports the development and introduction of this legislation.