WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. House of Representatives 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.

"We are extremely pleased Congress was able to find critically needed new funding for the Ryan White CARE Act," said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. "Securing this critical lifeline for over half a million Americans with HIV/AIDS is a national priority. We continue to be hopeful that the new congressional leadership believes this is a national priority as well.

"For six years, the Ryan White CARE Act has been the victim of flat-funding forcing cash-strapped states to make cutbacks in providing lifesaving care," Solmonese continued. "While this new funding is an important first step, each title of the CARE Act must receive significant 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.