[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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