[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 130 (Friday, October 7, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2053]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE THIRD ANNUAL NATIONAL LATINO AIDS AWARENESS 
                                  DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ROBERT MENENDEZ

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 7, 2005

  Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, today I am proud to rise and join my 
colleague, Congresswoman Hilda Solis, the chair of the Congressional 
Hispanic Caucus Health Braintrust, in recognizing the third annual 
National Latino AIDS Awareness Day, which will take place on Saturday, 
October 15, 2005.
  In my State of New Jersey, over 32,000 people are living with HIV or 
AIDS, and almost 7,000 of them are Latinos. Unfortunately, Latinos are 
suffering disproportionately from this disease. Latinos in New Jersey, 
like Latinos in the rest of the Nation, make up about 13 percent of the 
population, but 20 percent of the AIDS cases. Many are uninsured and 
unable to access adequate care due to lack of transportation, language 
and cultural barriers, or the fear of being stigmatized, among other 
reasons. Even more disturbing is the fact that 4 out of every 5 females 
living with HIV/AIDS are minorities.
  National Latino AIDS Awareness Day is about educating our communities 
and increasing awareness. Too many Latinas in my State are not getting 
diagnosed until it is too late. With increased awareness and action, we 
can save lives.
  National Latino AIDS Awareness Day is a chance to salute the AIDS 
survivors, and make sure they have the services they need. I urge my 
colleagues to reauthorize a stronger and fully funded Ryan White CARE 
Act, which provides critical support for those affected by HIV/AIDS, 
and is often what keeps those with HIV/AIDS from falling through the 
cracks. Through the help of the CARE Act, the incidence of mothers 
transmitting HIV to their babies has decreased ten-fold. Almost half of 
all CARE Act beneficiaries are minorities. Without a stronger 
commitment and increased funding, Latinos will be left behind and lives 
will be lost.
  National Latino AIDS Awareness Day also gives us a chance to thank 
those dedicated to ending HIV/AIDS: the victims, the volunteers, the 
professionals, and the advocates. It is their tireless efforts and 
dedication that force our country to be honest with itself. The 
progress we have made so far would not have been possible without them, 
or the commitment of national and community organizations, that provide 
culturally sensitive information and services that are essential to 
helping Latinos who suffer from the disease.
  But the battle against AIDS has not yet been won. Approximately 
40,000 new cases of HIV are reported each year. Alarmingly, Congress 
has slashed critical funding for programs that provide a comprehensive 
response to the spread of the disease, and for years, our communities 
have been asked to do more with less. This must stop.
  A renewed investment in the fight against HIV and AIDS is critical to 
the future of this country. Hispanic men, women, children, and families 
deserve better. On this National Latino AIDS Awareness Day, let us 
renew our commitment to the Latino community and to ending HIV/AIDS. 
Let us reauthorize and fully fund the CARE Act, and let us give our 
communities the resources they need to fight this disease.

                          ____________________