[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 163 (Thursday, November 29, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2169]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E2169]]
                             WORLD AIDS DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 29, 2001

  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, World AIDS Day on 
December 1 provides an opportunity to refocus our attention on the HIV/
AIDS crisis that has not gone away and will not go away until a 
concerted effort is made to address the pandemic and develop workable 
solutions.
  In the wake of the tragic events of September 11, attention has been 
focused elsewhere in the world. While we must do everything we can to 
combat terrorism, we cannot ignore other crises. Forty million people 
worldwide are still living with HIV/AIDS; 28 million are in sub-Saharan 
Africa. There are still 12 million orphans in sub-Saharan Africa, and 
there are still 15,000 new HIV infections each day.
  The statistics regarding HIV/AIDS are staggering, but we must not let 
these numbers deter our resolve to work together to bring this epidemic 
under control. The United States cannot ignore the fact that HIV/AIDS 
poses a serious risk to international stability and creates fertile 
breeding ground for social unrest. Our survival dictates that we cannot 
afford to lose this battle.

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