House Votes to End Ban on Sterile Needle Exchange!

This afternoon, the House of Representatives voted 211-218 against an amendment proposed by Mark Souder, which would have prohibited federal funding for programs that distribute sterile needles or syringes for hypodermic injection of illegal substances. If implemented, this amendment would have effectively placed another ban on needle exchange programs, reversing policy and healthcare advancements that have been made over the last several years.

Scientific evidence has demonstrated that needle exchange programs greatly reduce the rates of HIV and Hepatitis transmission, do not result in increased drug use, and can be an effective preventative, cost-saving HIV prevention measure. Thank you to everyone who made their voices heard by calling or faxing their Congressman’s office to help end the twenty year ban federal funding ban on sterile needle exchanges!

The bill to lift the ban on federal funding of needle exchange programs then passed as the House approved, by 264-153, a massive spending bill for health, labor and education programs for the upcoming budget year. It now awaits approval from the Senate and President Obama.

How did Representatives from Illinois vote? Check it out here!