[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 68 (Wednesday, May 15, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E813]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              DON'T DISCRIMINATE AGAINST THE HIV-POSITIVE

                                 ______


                             HON. SAM FARR

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 15, 1996

  Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express strong 
opposition to an unfair and discriminatory provision in the National 
Security Authorization Act of 1996. This provision would require all 
HIV-positive personnel to be immediately and summarily discharged from 
the military.
  The provision is based on prejudice and misunderstanding about HIV 
and the AIDS virus. Being HIV-positive does not mean being bed-ridden. 
It does not mean you cannot work. It does not mean you are contagious. 
In fact, it may take years before people who are HIV-positive show the 
debilitating symptoms of AIDS.
  Current military policy is fair and makes sense. Those who are HIV-
positive, as with those with disabilities, are not sent in combat. They 
are allowed to continue their service until they are too ill to serve.
  But this provision would remove such persons outright, whether they 
are ill or healthy. The assumption is, if you have HIV, you are a 
threat to others, you are sick, or something is wrong with you.
  All of those beliefs are false. Magic Johnson is one, more famous 
example, but there are tens of thousands of HIV-positive Americans who 
are healthy, working, and contributing to society.
  We should not discriminate against men and women in uniform if they 
are still able--and still want--to serve their country.

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