[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 59 (Thursday, May 8, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E873]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           AIDS--THIRD LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH IN YOUNG WOMEN

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. CONSTANCE A. MORELLA

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 8, 1997

  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, today I am joined by 23 of my colleagues 
in reintroducing legislation to address the need for increased research 
on HIV/AIDS in women.
  Despite the reduction in overall AIDS deaths in 1996, HIV/AIDS 
continues to be the third leading cause of death among women who are 
25-44 years of age, according to the Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention. The death rate for women actually increased by 3 percent in 
1996, resulting in a record 20 percent of reported AIDS cases in 
adults. Women are the fastest growing group of people with HIV, with 
low-income women and women of color being hit the hardest by this 
epidemic. African-American and Latina women represent 78 percent of all 
U.S. women diagnosed with AIDS.
  Since 1990, I have introduced legislation to ensure Federal support 
for research on HIV/AIDS in women. While progress has been made, there 
are still many unanswered questions about the disease in women, which 
affects their access to effective therapies and prevention methods.
  The bill includes several major elements, including funding for 
research on methods of protection from the transmission of HIV and 
sexually transmitted diseases, with an emphasis on methods that women 
can afford and control without the cooperation or knowledge of their 
male partners. We must acknowledge and respond to the issues of low 
self-esteem, economic dependency, fear of domestic violence, and other 
factors that are barriers to empowering women to negotiate safer sex 
practices. The bill also includes additional funding to continue the 
Women's Interagency HIV Study, the ongoing study of HIV progression in 
women, and to conduct other research to determine the impact of 
potential risk factors for HIV transmission to women.
  I urge my colleagues to join us as cosponsors of this legislation.

                          ____________________