On May 13th the Delaware State Legislature passed a concurrent resolution recognizing HIV infection rates, federal funding cuts, and growing health disparities in Delaware. House Concurrent Resolution 47 was spearheaded by Rep. Eric Morrison in partnership with the Delaware HIV Prevention Coalition. Rep. Morrison introduced the resolution in the House, and Senatotor Senator Laura Sturgeon introduced the resolution in the Senate.
See pictures from the day here
Tyler Berl, Executive Director of the Delaware HIV Consortium, read comments on behalf of the coalition for both chambers. His comments, in their entirety, are included below.
Good afternoon. Thank you for the opportunity to address this distinguished body.
Delaware has made tremendous progress in our fight against HIV.
What was once a fatal diagnosis is now a manageable condition.
People living with HIV who stay in care can live long, healthy lives—and those on treatment
are at virtually no risk of transmitting the virus.
For those at risk, prevention tools like the drug pre-exposure prophylaxis, PrEP, can reduce acquisition to near zero.
Yet, we should not be contented with this progress – HIV is still an epidemic.
For several years, Delaware saw fewer than 100 new HIV diagnoses annually. But that progress is slipping.
Since 2020, we’ve seen a 26% increase in new diagnoses. This is not a statistical anomaly—it’s a sustained trend. And it is affecting our communities – every ZIP Code – statewide, especially Black and Hispanic Delawareans,
LGBTQ+ individuals, and those living in poverty.
At the same time, the federal infrastructure that has supported virtually all of Delaware’s prevention efforts for decades is collapsing. In the past two years alone, federal HIV prevention funding to our state has been slashed by more than 55%. Community-based programs have lost nearly 70% of their funding. Only $1.1 million in federal dollars remains to fund all statewide testing, PrEP navigation, outreach, and HIV education.
Without speaking to the cuts that community-based organizations have made, it is important to note that our Division of Public Health has already been forced to eliminate core prevention programs they provide:
- the condom distribution service,
- the HIV re-engagement initiative,
- the Medical Monitoring Project, and
- 11 disease intervention positions—more than two-thirds of the state’s field team.
And now we face the threat of losing more.
The state is awaiting outcomes from several federal political funding processes, which, if enacted, could further reduce or fully defund Delaware’s HIV service sector and adversely affect those living with and impacted by HIV.
Without sustained access to prevention, infections will rise—and with them, avoidable costs. Each new HIV infection brings an estimated $500,000 in lifetime healthcare expenses, much of it through Medicaid and other public programs.
Delaware has never dedicated state operating funds to HIV prevention. But this model may no longer be sustainable.
We cannot control federal politics—but we can control how we respond.
I will end by thanking you, the members of the Delaware General Assembly.
Passing this resolution demonstrates Delaware’s commitment to protecting our residents, preserving public health, and ensuring health equity.
If we act now, Delaware can protect the progress we’ve made. But if we wait, we risk watching a slow-moving public health crisis accelerate beyond our ability to control it.
I thank you for your attention, your service, and your willingness to lead in this critical moment