[Bush debate claims on AIDS record disputed] Page: 1 of 2
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NEWS
For immediate release
from October 13, 1992
BUSH DEBATE CLAIMS ON AIDS RECORD DISPUTED
President George Bush distorted his administration's record on AIDS in Sunday's
Presidential debate, according to AIDS Action Council, the country's largest AIDS
lobbying group.
"Once again, President Bush inflated the amount of money his administration spends
fighting AIDS," said Daniel T. Bross, executive director of AIDS Action Council.
"He says we are spending $4.9 billion on AIDS, but the reality is that less than half
this figure is for AIDS-specific programs. More than half is automatic entitlement
spending on those who have become poor, sick, and disabled as a result of AIDS.
These entitlement programs were enacted before the Bush Administration or the
AIDS epidemic.
"Entitlement spending reflects our nation's failure to prevent the transmission of
HIV, and our failure to find workable treatments. It's gruesome and ironic that
Bush talks about a body count as though it is an accomplishment."
AIDS Action Council contradicted Bush on the following specific points:contact:
Carisa Cunningham
Tel 202 986 1300
ext 19
1875
Connecticut Ave NW
Suite 700
Washington DC
20009
Fax 202 986 1345" President Bush's assertion that his administration spends "ten times as much
per AIDS victim as per cancer victim" is false. In reality, the Department of
Health and Human Services cannot even provide a figure on what the federal
government does spend per cancer patient, despite congressional requests.
On research alone, spending for AIDS was $841 million in 1992, as opposed to
$1.95 billion for cancer.
- President Bush's assertion that he wiii "keep spending more on AIDS
research than in the past" is false. In reality, President Bush requested $873
million for National Institutes of Health AIDS research in 1993, compared to $841
million in 1992. This is an increase of 3.8%, which is below the biomedical
inflation rate of approximately 5%.
- President Bush's assertion that he has "doubled" funding on "research and
every other aspect of [AIDS]" is false. In reality, Bush's first (1990) budget was
$1.6 billion for discretionary programs; in 1993 it is $2.1 billion. Research
spending has gone up a total of only 17% in four years -- from $743 million in
1990 to approximately $870 million in 1993.-- more --
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AIDS Action Council. [Bush debate claims on AIDS record disputed], periodical, October 13, 1992; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc915844/m1/1/: accessed June 7, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Special Collections.