[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 23 (Wednesday, February 7, 2007)]
[House]
[Page H1315]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         IN OBSERVANCE OF NATIONAL BLACK HIV/AIDS AWARENESS DAY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Mrs. Christensen) is recognized 
for 5 minutes.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Madam Speaker, today I rise to observe National 
Black HIV and AIDS Awareness Day. In doing so, I ask my colleagues and 
I ask the Nation this question: How many more reports on the HIV/AIDS 
epidemic in the United States and its disproportionate, detrimental and 
devastating impact on the African American community must be published 
before we, as a Congress and as a Nation, acknowledge, observe and 
uphold the objectives of National Black HIV and AIDS Awareness Day?
  African Americans have been and continue to be the hardest hit by 
this epidemic. Today, HIV/AIDS kills African Americans during the most 
productive years of life, robbing them of their opportunity to follow 
their dreams and pursue their destinies and to contribute, not only to 
their families and their communities but to our society and our Nation. 
What's more, the numbers are not improving.
  African Americans have a HIV diagnosis rate that is more than eight 
times that of whites. African Americans, who are represented in about 
13 percent of the population, account for nearly 50 percent of all new 
HIV infections, and more than 40 percent of all individuals currently 
living with AIDS, and 40 percent of all AIDS deaths. The AIDS case rate 
among African Americans is nearly 10 times, 10 times higher than that 
among whites.
  Particularly affected by HIV and AIDS are African American women. In 
fact, in 2002, AIDS was the leading cause of death for African American 
women age 25 to 34 years of age. African American women today are 
represented in about 7 in 10 new AIDS cases among women and are roughly 
25 more times more likely than their white counterparts to be infected 
with HIV.
  Madam Speaker, often as Members of Congress we take to the floor to 
discuss and debate an issue that resonates with us, not only because of 
our constituents who are affected but because we personally identify 
and are disturbed by the issue. And not only as a physician and as 
chair of the Health Brain Trust of the Congressional Black Caucus but 
as an African American woman with daughters and granddaughters, this 
issue is particularly salient. The numbers are particularly disturbing, 
and our inaction as a country inspires me to stand here today and call 
on my colleagues to stand up and do more.
  I also rise today, Madam Speaker, not only to observe National Black 
HIV Awareness Day but to encourage my colleagues in Congress on both 
sides of the aisle to do the same in a manner that is consistent with 
the day's intent. That intent is to get educated, to get tested and to 
get involved.
  We know that, as members of the Congressional Black Caucus, almost 
all of whom have been tested, we have a key role to play. I urge all of 
my colleagues to embrace these objectives today, February 7, and 
beyond. The HIV epidemic in the United States will not be conquered 
until we not only encourage but also embrace the destigmatization of 
the disease among not only African Americans but also all people living 
and struggling with HIV/AIDS. How one gets infected is irrelevant. HIV 
affects all people the same way. And we, along with all Americans, 
should extend a hand of compassion, understanding, fellowship and, most 
of all, action to help.
  Madam Speaker, in this new time with new opportunities, we need to 
leverage ourselves as Members of Congress to fully fund the Minority 
AIDS Initiative to at least $610 million, although we should be asking 
for more in order to really build the capacity in the minority 
communities that are hardest hit by the epidemic. That includes the 
Latino community as well. We should expand voluntary testing, 
especially among incarcerated, ex-offenders and other high-risk groups, 
and ensure that all individuals who need it are enrolled in adequate 
HIV/AIDS related care.
  We should also work together to reduce the social determinants of 
health that put people at greater risk for HIV infection. And we should 
expand access to culturally appropriate substance abuse prevention 
programs as well as to drug treatment and recovery services.
  Madam Speaker, the budget that was released on Monday clearly 
deprioritizes the health and health care needs of all people with HIV 
and AIDS and their families. However, our new political climate has 
brought us a new day, and we, therefore, must leverage ourselves to 
redeclare HIV and AIDS as a state of emergency. We must demand that 
this administration responds to this emergency with adequate funding 
and resources instead of tax breaks to the wealthy. The lives of far 
too many people literally depend on it.
  And so, today, Madam Speaker, I am proud to stand with my colleagues 
to observe National Black HIV and AIDS Awareness Day. I affirm, and we 
all must stand to affirm that HIV and AIDS in the African American 
community and communities of color has long been a state of emergency, 
and from today forward we must respond with compassion and justice. And 
we, the representatives of the people who are infected and affected, as 
all of us are, must act.

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