U.S. Reps. Adam Schiff, Bonnie Watson Coleman, Barbara Lee and Mondaire Jones have reintroduced the PrEP Assistance Program Act to make the preventative HIV drug PrEP more affordable and accessible to underserved and high-risk populations.

The bill will provide grants to cover medication costs, clinic and testing fees, physician visits and community outreach programs.

Although PrEP has been available for years, many Americans lack access to and awareness of the medication, lawmakers said. The PrEP access gap is especially prevalent in Black and Latino communities, which also suffer from disproportionately high rates of HIV.

“Because of the advancement in PrEP, we have the ability to end the HIV epidemic. But due to a lack of access and other systemic barriers, this life-saving drug is still tragically underutilized by individuals that need it most, including those who are uninsured or at the highest risk of contracting an infection,” said Schiff (D-Burbank). “This critical legislation will help PrEP medication and other essential testing and treatment services to equitably reach communities and ensure no one has to suffer from a now-preventable disease.”

“As a gay Black man, I know firsthand the lifechanging power of PrEP,” said Jones (D-New York). “PrEP allows millions of Americans at higher risk of contracting HIV, especially LGBTQ+ people, to live their lives without fear. But today, too many people go without this medication simply because they can’t afford it or don’t know about it. In our ongoing fight to affirm LGBTQ+ justice and eradicate HIV and AIDS – which disproportionately impact LGBTQ+ people of color – getting PrEP to every person who needs it is essential.”

PrEP, or pre-exposure prophylaxis, is a daily medication to reduce the risk of HIV infection in high-risk individuals.

For information, visit schiff.house.gov.