[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 155 (Monday, October 15, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2131]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




CELEBRATING NATIONAL LATINO AIDS AWARENESS DAY AND 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF 
                                HIV/AIDS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. RAUL M. GRIJALVA

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, October 15, 2007

  Mr. GRIJALVA. Madam Speaker, today we celebrate National Latino AIDS 
Awareness Day, and the 25th anniversary of HIV/AIDS. Let us mark this 
day with a renewed spirit and effort to battle against this deadly 
virus.
  HIV/AIDS disproportionately affects Latinos in this country, for 
while Latinos only represent 14 percent of the population of this 
country, 19 percent of those with HIV/AIDS are Latinos. 100,000 Latinos 
have died from this disease. We cannot continue to allow HIV/AIDS to 
ravage our communities.
  Educating and reaching out to our children, family, and friends to 
address drug use, sexuality, and sexual activity should be our number 
one priority, because knowledge is the first step in successful 
prevention. The fact that these are topics that have been deemed 
unmentionable for generations is one of the reasons the epidemic of 
HIV/AIDS affects Latinos disproportionately; this is something that we 
must strive to change.
  We must utilize our strengths to defeat this epidemic in our 
communities; we cannot allow silence and lack of information on this 
virus to be the cause of such tragic illness and death any longer.
  Access to care is also a major issue for many Latinos. This week the 
House will be voting to override the President's veto of the Children's 
Health Insurance Program, legislation which will provide 10 million 
low-income children with health insurance. This access to health care 
will allow these children to begin and continue to live healthy lives.
  For a person with HIV/AIDS, access health care is imperative. Many 
cannot obtain private insurance, are uninsured, or do not know how to 
apply for public insurance. This lack of insurance leads to less access 
to care, which further stymies the possibilities of successfully living 
with HIV/AIDS. I believe that access to appropriate and affordable 
health care is a basic human right, and while the passage of the 
Children's Health Insurance Program, SCHIP, will be a good first step, 
it is by no means the only step we need to take.
  This has been a long, frustrating battle, and it is far from over. 
Today I join in solidarity with those who have suffered or watched a 
loved one suffer from HIV/AIDS. As I recommit myself to the fight 
against this virus I ask you to please join me.

                          ____________________