The U.S. House on Wednesday approved legislation that renews federal funding to care for low-income people living with HIV/AIDS.

The bill, known as the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act of 2009, would provide funding under the Ryan White program for an additional four years. The House approved the legislation by a vote of 408-9, according to the clerk’s office.

The Ryan White Care Act, first enacted in 1990, is the nation’s largest federally funded program for people living HIV/AIDS and is designed to assist low-income victims with insufficient or no insurance.

Rebecca Haag, AIDS Action Council’s executive director, praised the House for approving the measure.

“This bill will ensure the availability of life saving services for those living with HIV/AIDS in all states and territories while we determine the long term impact of health care reform legislation and the National HIV/AIDS Strategy on the health and well being of those infected, affected and at risk for HIV,” she said in a statement.

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