[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 81 (Wednesday, June 9, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6801-S6802]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 114--DESIGNATING JUNE 22, 1999, AS ``NATIONAL
PEDIATRIC AIDS AWARENESS DAY''
Mr. HATCH (for himself, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Bond, Mr. Schumer, Mr.
DeWine, Mr. Biden, Mr. Warner, Mr. Daschle, Mr. Crapo, Mr. Hollings,
Mr. Bennett, Mr. Kerry, Mr. Smith of Oregon, Mr. Lautenberg, Mr.
Fitzgerald, Mrs. Murray, Ms. Snowe, Mr. Robb, Mr. Mack, Mr. Torricelli,
Mr. Abraham, Mr. Wellstone, Mr. Burns, Mr. Cleland, Mrs. Hutchison, Mr.
Dodd, Mr. Specter, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Campbell, Mr. Edwards, Mr. Frist,
Mr. Inouye, Mr. Gorton, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Lott, Mr. Reid, Mr.
Ashcroft, Mr. Graham, Mr. Cochran, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Jeffords, Mr.
Kerrey, Mr. Chafee, Ms. Mikulski, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Bayh, Mr. Craig,
Mr. Reed, Mr. Nickles, and Mr. Kohl) submitted the following
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary:
S. Res. 114
Whereas acquired immune deficiency syndrome (referred to in
this resolution as ``AIDS'') is the 7th leading cause of
death for children in the United States;
Whereas approximately 15,000 children in the United States
are currently infected with human immunodeficiency virus
(referred to in this resolution as ``HIV''), the virus that
causes AIDS;
Whereas the number of children who have died from AIDS
worldwide since the AIDS epidemic began has reached
2,700,000;
Whereas it is estimated that an additional 40,000,000
children will die from AIDS by the year 2020;
Whereas perinatal transmission of HIV from mother to child
accounts for 91 percent of pediatric HIV cases;
Whereas studies have demonstrated that the maternal
transmission of HIV to an infant decreased from 30 percent to
less than 8 percent after therapeutic intervention was
employed;
Whereas effective drug treatments have decreased the
percentage of deaths from AIDS in the United States by 47
percent in both 1998 and 1999;
[[Page S6802]]
Whereas the number of children of color infected with HIV
is disproportionate to the national statistics with respect
to all children;
Whereas The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation has
been devoted over the past decade to the education, research,
prevention, and elimination of acquired immune deficiency
syndrome (AIDS); and
Whereas the people of the United States should resolve to
do everything possible to control and eliminate this epidemic
that threatens our future generations: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) in recognition of all of the individuals who have
devoted their time and energy toward combatting the spread
and costly effects of acquired immune deficiency syndrome
(AIDS) epidemic, designates June 22, 1999, as ``National
Pediatric AIDS Awareness Day''; and
(2) requests that the President issue a proclamation
calling on the people of the United States to observe the day
with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, I rise to submit a Senate Resolution
recognizing June 22, 1999, as ``National Pediatrics AIDS Awareness
Day.'' I am sponsoring this resolution today with my colleague Senator
Boxer from California and 52 of our other colleagues of the Senate.
Senator Boxer and I are cochairs for the 10th anniversary of the
Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, which promises to be a
wonderful event. But, more importantly, through the generosity of many
individuals and organizations, substantial funds will be raised to
further the research necessary to defeat this disease which threatens
so many lives--including children.
Infection of children with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is
very different than infection in adults. Infected children get sick
faster; their immune systems may deteriorate more quickly; treatment
protocols are very different; and they often involve more
complications. Almost all children with HIV infection have acquired the
virus from their mothers. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, before
preventive treatments were available, an estimated 1,000-2,000 babies
were born with HIV infection each year in the United States.
Today, because of scientific and medical breakthroughs in
pharmaceutical therapies, the mother-to-infant transmission rate has
dropped from 43% in 1992 to 8% in 1997. The investment in prevention
alone has resulted in avoiding an estimated 656 HIV infections and
saves $105.6 million in medical care costs. Thus we are indeed seeing
results from the time, energy, and resources being expended to fight
this dreaded disease. My hat is off to those front line researchers and
clinicians who have devoted themselves to this task.
While significant advances have been made in decreasing pediatric HIV
infection, we must continue to work tirelessly to develop an HIV
vaccine that will enable the safe and effective immunization of
children and adults. We must better understand why HIV/AIDS
disproportionately affects children of color and find cures to
eradicate this epidemic. For our children living with HIV, we must
provide them with the best possible therapeutic and social support to
ensure their long, high quality life. I urge all senators to join me on
June 22 at the National Building Museum to celebrate the successes
which have been achieved in fighting HIV and AIDS among our youth and
to renew our pledge to fight this disease until it disappears from the
face of this earth.
Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I am very honored to rise today with my
good friend, Senator Hatch, to submit a resolution designating June 22
as National Pediatric AIDS Awareness Day.
I am proud that we have the cosponsorship of 52 of our colleagues,
which demonstrates a broad interest in the issue of children and AIDS.
Incredibly, AIDS is the seventh leading cause of death for children
in the United States. We have lost 2.7 million precious children to
this epidemic--a staggering and sobering statistic.
Our resolution recognizes and commemorates the children, families,
and countless others in the health and education communities who have
dedicated their substantial time and efforts to prevention and
eradication of AIDS.
It also recognizes the 10th anniversary of the Elizabeth Glaser
Pediatric AIDS Foundation, an outstanding charitable organization which
has devoted years of effort to the education, research, and prevention
of HIV transmission and disease.
I hope the Senate will act quickly on this resolution to recognize
the devastating effects of this terrible disease on millions of
American children and their families, and to honor the contributions of
thousands of others who are working to end the epidemic.
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