[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 135 (Friday, December 8, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2166]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       19TH ANNUAL WORLD AIDS DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. LYNN C. WOOLSEY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 7, 2006

  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, on December 1, communities around the world 
came together to remember AIDS' more than 25 million victims and to 
renew our commitment to the 40 million people currently living with 
HIV/AIDS.
  The 19th annual World AIDS Day was both an opportunity to reflect on 
the progress we've made combating this illness and a reminder of all of 
the obstacles we must still overcome. Since 1981, our battle to combat 
the myths associated with AIDS, the discrimination against people 
infected with HIV, and the virus and disease themselves have all 
improved. However, AIDS continues to devastate every region of the 
world as 6,000 people, half of which are between 15 and 24 years old, 
become infected with HIV every day.
  This year alone, almost 3 million people have died from AIDS, while 
more than 4 million more were infected with HIV. In Sub-Saharan Africa, 
12 million children have been orphaned as a result of AIDS. In 
California, 56,000 people are currently living with AIDS, making up 14% 
of our nation's total AIDS population. The AIDS pandemic has become so 
widespread in our country that it is thought to have killed more than 
ten times the number of American soldiers killed in Vietnam. We cannot 
afford to turn a blind eye as this disease takes its toll on the 
American public.
  We must do more to address this global health crisis. Congress must 
increase its aid for treatment and educational programs to countries 
burdened by catastrophically high infection rates. The U.S. must 
support and implement programs that increase the public's knowledge 
about proper ways to protect against HIV transmission. More people must 
get tested and more people must receive treatment. Each year World AIDS 
Day is a wake-up call to the reality that we cannot be complacent with 
our accomplishments combating AIDS because so much more needs to be 
done.
  That's why I have consistently supported measures to help poor 
nations get the medicines they need to fight AIDS, and have also joined 
efforts to fight for more funding for the Global Fund. We work to 
improve the care available to HIV/AIDS patients while ensuring that 
socioeconomic status does not limit a person's access to life-saving 
treatments. Additionally, it is essential that we continue to 
adequately fund the Ryan White CARE Act, which helps cities, states, 
and local community-based organizations provide services to HIV-
positive individuals who otherwise couldn't afford medication, 
transportation, food or housing. The time and effort Congress spends on 
implementing programs that deal with HIV prevention, treatment, 
education, and support must be in line with the true priorities of the 
American people. In that respect, we still have a lot of work to do.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate World AIDS Day because I 
believe we must take this opportunity to honor our commitment to those 
who have struggled with and continue to fight against this destructive 
disease. As we work to improve HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment, let 
us do so with the dedication and the drive that the American public 
demands of us. As we look forward to the new Congress, let us confront 
this disease head on, finally putting forward the resources we need to 
conquer AIDS.

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