WASHINGTON - Today, the United States Senate passed a continuing resolution to fund the government for the remainder of fiscal year 2007 that included an increase of $75.8 million to Title II of the Ryan White CARE Act. The House of Representatives had passed the same continuing resolution on Jan. 31. The legislation now goes to the president for his signature.

"We applaud the Senate for approving this critically needed new funding for the Ryan White CARE Act," said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. "The CARE Act is nothing short of a lifeline for over half a million Americans with HIV/AIDS, and we are optimistic that this new funding is just the first of many efforts by the new Congressional leadership to adequately fund this vital program. After six years of cuts and flat-funding, each title of the CARE Act must receive increases as the new Congress begins the 2008 appropriations cycle."

Last December, a carefully crafted compromise bill to reauthorize the Ryan White CARE Act was passed and signed into law by the president. The ability of the compromise bill to succeed was predicated upon an increase of $70 million to the Title II base of the program in fiscal year 2007. The Human Rights Campaign actively lobbied for Congress to appropriate this funding in the 2007 continuing resolution.

The Human Rights Campaign is America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against GLBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.