[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 25 (Thursday, March 2, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E255-E256]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          COMMEMORATING NATIONAL BLACK HIV/AIDS AWARENESS DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. ELIJAH E. CUMMINGS

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 2, 2006

  Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate National Black 
HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, which occurred on February 7, 2006. In its 
sixth year of observation, the event promotes the mobilization of the 
black community in an effort to educate and increase community 
awareness and participation about HIV/AIDS.
  The event was created in February 2001 by the Community Capacity 
Building Coalition, a group of national non-profit organizations whose 
mission is to assist in creating HIV/AIDS prevention capacity building 
among community organizations in the black community. The coalition was 
funded and formulated by the Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention's Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention.
  The annual event emphasizes the importance of testing, education, and 
awareness through a unified community construct. Additionally, the day 
is used to remember all those who are infected as well as those who 
have lost their battle with the disease since its onset in the United 
States in 1981.
  Mr. Speaker, National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is a powerful 
combating mechanism. However, based on the current state of the disease 
in the African-American community as revealed by the following 
startling statistics and research, much more work needs to be done to 
halt the spread of this devastating disease.
  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
  Although African-Americans comprise only 13 percent of the 
population, they account for 49 percent of all new AIDS cases in the 
nation. This is an alarming increase from the startling account of 25 
percent of AIDS cases in 1985.
  Results from a large study of African-American homosexual and 
bisexual men in five studies found 46 percent of the men to be HIV 
positive and 67 percent of them unaware of their status.
  African-American women account for 67 percent of all newly diagnosed 
female AIDS cases.
  Although African-American youth comprise only 15 percent of U.S. 
teenagers, they accounted for 66 percent of new AIDS cases reported 
among teens in 2003. A similar picture is found among African-American 
children.
  Over a third of African Americans with HIV diagnoses (39 percent) 
were tested for HIV late in their illness and subsequently diagnosed 
with AIDS within one year of testing positive.
  Additionally, in a report recently released by the Maryland AIDS 
Administration, the Baltimore-Towson metropolitan area, which houses my 
district in its entirety, is classified as having ``the fifth highest 
AIDS case report rate of any major metropolitan area in the United 
States (32.8 cases per 100,000) . . . 2.2 times higher than the 
national average of 15.0 cases per 100,000.'' Within these reported 
cases, 89 percent are African-Americans, 62 percent are male and 65 
percent are between the ages of 30-49.
  These statistics are mind boggling. However, one thing remains 
consistent and clear. If not mitigated, the disease will continue to 
wreak devastation. HIV/AIDS is a pandemic that belongs to each and 
everyone of us and we must address it societally and holistically.
  In his 2006 State of the Union address, President Bush did in fact 
acknowledge and address the state of HIV/AIDS in the African-American 
community. Specifically, he stated

[[Page E256]]

that, ``[a] hopeful society acts boldly to fight diseases like HIV/
AIDS, which can be prevented, and treated, and defeated . . . We will . 
. . lead a nationwide effort, working closely with African American 
churches and faith-based groups, to deliver rapid HIV tests to 
millions, end the stigma of AIDS, and come closer to the day when there 
are no new infections in America.''
  Although a very promising and audacious statement, action speaks 
louder than words. With that said, I encourage this Congress post haste 
to reauthorize and fully fund the Ryan White CARE Act--and to 
strengthen it to ensure accountability and equitable access to 
treatment, prevention, and medical care for all affected. I urge this 
Administration to work in full concert of accomplishing this critical 
goal.
  I conclude with the words of the late and great first lady of the 
Civil Rights Movement, Coretta Scott King, who stated that ``AIDS is a 
global crisis, a national crisis, a local crisis and a human crisis . . 
. No matter where you live, AIDS is one of the most deadly killers of 
African Americans. And I think anyone who sincerely cares about the 
future of Black America had better be speaking out, calling for 
preventive measures and increased funding for research and treatment.'' 


                          ____________________