We Care about you!
Compensation Legislation Pending in the Senate
due to NAVTA's efforts

The National Association for Victims of Transfusion-Acquired AIDS provides information, education, and networking to individuals infected with the human-immunodeficiency virus (HIV) through contaminated blood. People with transfusion AIDS (T-A) have been isolated because they've had no medium for identifying others infected through blood transfusions. Consequently they've had limited access to information relevant to those with T-A.

NAVTA supports legislation that would compensate those infected with HIV through blood transfusions. The " Steve Grissom Relief Fund Act of 2002 [S.2219]" was introduced in the Senate on April 22nd, 2002 by Senator John

We are deeply saddened to report that Steve Grissom, the founder of NAVTA, died on July 31, 2002. Steve had been battling HIV since he was transfused in January 1985. Despite being confined to a wheelchair and requiring oxygen tanks, Steve continued to be a crusader for people with transfusion HIV and for patients' rights. We will miss his warmth, his generosity, and his humor.

Edwards (D-NC), co-sponsored by Senators Edward Kennedy (D-MA), and James Jeffords (I-VT). A companion bill, H.R.5299, was introduced in the House of Representatives by Congresswoman Connie Morella. The bills authorize compassionate payments to individuals who contracted human immunodeficiency virus due to contaminated blood transfusions between July 1, 1982 and December 31, 1987. [S.2219]#" class="link-norm">Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee. Please contact your senators and congressman and urge them to become cosponsors of the bill and request they extend the applicable dates to apply to those infected up until the present. Click here to locate your state senators. Senators can call Kyle Kinner in Sen. John Edwards' office for more information. Congressmen can call Moira Shea in Rep. Connie Morella's office for more information. Click here to locate your congressman. Go to our Advocacy Page for more information.

NAVTA serves to provide access to information regarding treatment, services, and research. Our website provides resources for reading materials, links to AIDS organizations, and updates on research and on legislative action pertaining to HIV generally and to T-A specifically. We are involved in educating government representatives about the need to ensure the safety of the blood supply and of the past history of private industries and government agencies in failing to do so. While the risk of becoming infected with HIV from transfusions has been greatly reduced since the introduction in 1985 of HIV-antibody screening of donated blood, a small but significant risk remains. We are involved in exploring modes of eliminating that risk.

NAVTA is committed to being an active member of the AIDS community and to work with other AIDS organizations for the benefit of all people infected with HIV and their families and loved ones.