U.S. House of Representatives Committee Calls for Modernization of HIV Criminalization Laws in Amendment to Appropriations Bill

Congresswoman Barbara Lee announced that she offered an amendment to be included in the Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Bill for Fiscal Year 2014 that would require the U.S. Attorney General to initiate a review of federal and state laws, policies, and regulations regarding criminal and related civil commitment cases involving people living with HIV. As Rep. Lee noted: "HIV Criminalization laws breed, discrimination, distrust, and hatred. These laws are based on fear, not science. This is an important first step in ensuring that our laws reflect current scientific understandings of HIV." The amendment passed on a voice vote as part of the manager's amendment in the U.S. House of Representatives' Appropriation Committee.  As the Los Angeles Times has recognized, states should get rid of outdated HIV laws because "they are based on fears that have since been disproved by science."  CHLP is closely monitoring and documenting HIV-specific criminal statues and prosecutions across the country.  CHLP has also created guidance for people who are facing criminalization.