WASHINGTON - The following statement was made today by Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign, upon signage by the president of the United States of the reauthorization of the Ryan White CARE Act. Before adjourning for the year, Congress passed this critical lifeline for more than half a million low-income Americans living with HIV/AIDS.

"We are pleased that a bipartisan Congress and the president were able to come together and agree on the reauthorization of the Ryan White CARE Act and officially sign it into law today," said Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign. "This critical lifesaving piece of legislation will help over a half million low-income Americans living with HIV/AIDS continue to receive the medical care they so desperately need. However, as we head into a new year and a new Congress we will aggressively push to ensure that the years of insufficient funding of this program be corrected. If our government is serious about combating this epidemic we must not allow rhetoric to mask itself as real action."

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.