[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 176 (Tuesday, December 9, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2550]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       RECOGNIZING WORLD AIDS DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CIRO D. RODRIGUEZ

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, December 8, 2003

  Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge Monday, 
December 1, 2003 as World AIDS Day. Worldwide 42 million people are 
living with HIV/AIDS, including 3.2 million children under the age of 
15. AIDS kills more people worldwide than any other infectious disease 
and infects 15,000 people each day.
  World AIDS Day was established in 1988 to raise awareness about HIV/
AIDS and tackle the tough issues related to the disease. This year the 
focus is on stigma and discrimination, two major obstacles in 
preventing HIV/AIDS.
  When people living with HIV/AIDS are discriminated against they are 
less likely to acknowledge their disease or seek treatment. They may be 
denied housing, employment, or health care services. We must do 
everything possible to reduce the stigma associated with HIV/AIDS 
through worldwide and local efforts.
  Congress can fight stigma and discrimination by continuing monetary 
support for the International AIDS Vaccine Inititaive (IAVI) and the 
Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. IAVI focuses on 
accelerating scientific progress, mobilizing public support through 
issue advocacy and education, encouraging industrial involvement in 
AIDS vaccine development, and working to ensure global access to a 
vaccine. I greatly support this program and urge the largest funding 
amount.
  Congress should provide the maximum allowable contribution of $3 
billion to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. 
The Fund makes grants in developing countries aimed at reducing the 
number of HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria infections, as well as the 
illness and death that result from such infections. Over five years, 
the Fund hopes to fund anti-retroviral therapy for 500,000 patients 
over five years and to be supporting programs to provide care for 
500,000 children orphaned by AIDS.
  However, these large international organizations would be meaningless 
without people at the local level to provide care and support to those 
living with HIV/AIDS. In Texas, 60,078 people are living with HIV/AIDS, 
and many groups and individuals are working hard to address their 
needs.
  I would like to recognize the efforts of the following people and 
organizations for their contributions in combating the AIDS epidemic:
  Charlene Doria Ortiz, Executive Director--Center for Health Policy 
Development; Dr. Fernando Guerra, Director of Health--San Antonio 
Metropolitan Health District; David Ewell, Executive Director--San 
Antonio AIDS Foundation; Yolanda Rodriguez Escobar, Diector--Mujeres 
Unidas Contra El SIDA; Pastor E. Butch Seward, Chairman of the Board 
and Michelle Durham, Executive Director--Black Effort Against the 
Threat of AIDS (BEAT AIDS, Inc.).
  By providing medical care, educational programs, housing and 
financial assistance, caseworkers to help with government benefits, and 
support groups, these programs help those living with HIV/AIDS get 
through each day. I am proud to recognize them for their year round and 
tireless commitment to fighting HIV/AIDS.
  We may only recognize World AIDS Day once a year, but by providing 
adequate funding and support for programs that encourage treatment and 
education we can create lasting effects on the fight against AIDS.