[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 18 (Wednesday, February 27, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E214]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            IN HONOR OF MOTHERS' VOICES--UNITED TO END AIDS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JERROLD NADLER

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 27, 2002

  Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Mothers' Voices 
on the occasion of its 10th anniversary. Mothers' Voices is an 
organization of mothers and supporters, based on Manhattan's West Side, 
that works to educate our families about the prevention of HIV/AIDS and 
to advocate for creative and effective public policy to stem the tide 
of this devastating epidemic.
  While the rate of HIV/AIDS infection among young people under 25 
continues to climb, it is increasingly necessary to mobilize our entire 
community to expand education and prevention programs. Despite the 
advancements in research and treatment of AIDS, the statistics on the 
rate of infection are disheartening. The Centers for Disease Control 
recently announced that the HIV/AIDS infection rate for the U.S. has 
risen by 8 percent in the last year alone. New York had the highest 
rate of increase, at 47 percent. Approximately half of the 40,000 new 
HIV infections occurring annually in America are in young people under 
the age of 25. Every hour of every day, two Americans between the ages 
of 13 and 24 become infected with HIV. The CDC report recommends the 
need for community-based outreach and education, like the programs 
offered by Mothers' Voices. As an organization of parents, Mothers' 
Voices has the unique ability to educate young people about the 
devastating consequences of HIV/AIDS. Under the leadership of President 
Suzanne Benzer and Executive Director Carol Henry, Mothers' Voices has 
worked to inform the public about the deadly effects of HIV/AIDS and 
how to properly prevent infection.
  As the toll of HIV/AIDS on our families and communities mounts higher 
and higher, it is imperative that Mothers' Voices keeps working to 
provide educational outreach and advocacy. I wholeheartedly 
congratulate Mothers' Voices for ten successful years of educating our 
families, raising awareness and advocating for our children's health 
and well being.

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