[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 91 (Friday, July 14, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1249]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      FOREIGN OPERATIONS, EXPORT FINANCING, AND RELATED PROGRAMS 
                        APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2001

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. LYNN C. WOOLSEY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 12, 2000

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 4811) making 
     appropriations for foreign operations, export financing, and 
     related programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 
     2001, and for other purposes.

  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of the Lee 
amendment.
  This amendment will provide the funds needed for finding a cure for 
HIV/AIDS.
  Sadly, HIV/AIDS infects more than ten million young people around the 
world, making it the largest crisis children face.
  Just as awful, this horrific virus has left millions of uninfected 
children orphaned by parents who have died of HIV/AIDS.
  AIDS is destroying the lives and futures of our children here at 
home, and our children around the globe, and we are not doing enough to 
turn the tide.
  What kind of crisis does it take before this Congress realizes we 
need to take immediate action against the global AIDS epidemic?
  Immediate action requires measures of prevention and treatment.
  Prevention must include world-wide educational and awareness 
campaigns. Our youth can't protect themselves if they don't know the 
facts about HIV/AIDS. I find it extremely disturbing that many children 
don't know how the virus is transmitted.
  Like prevention, we must make treatment for AIDS a high priority.
  The availability of certain drugs can make the difference between the 
death of a parent, child or individual and the possibility of a bright, 
healthy future.
  Mr. Chairman, we need to mobilize every available resource, sparing 
no effort to fight the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Our Nation and those across 
the globe need help and they need it now.
  I strongly urge my colleagues to support this amendment.

                          ____________________