[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 39 (Wednesday, March 17, 2010)]
[House]
[Page H1523]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                AIDS/HIV

  (Ms. WATSON asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak out against the HIV-
AIDS epidemic in African-American communities. While African Americans 
are 12 percent of the United States population, approximately 50 
percent of HIV-AIDS patients nationwide are black. Just over the the 
last 6 months, 452 new cases of HIV were reported in Los Angeles County 
alone. Our prevention strategy is clearly not working for many of our 
constituents. That is why I support H.R. 1964, the National Black 
Clergy for the Elimination of HIV-AIDS Act. They sit up on our right in 
our gallery, and I welcome them here.
  This bill seeks to expand and increase programs for HIV education, 
prevention, testing, care, and treatment in ways that are responsive to 
the needs of African-American communities. Moreover, this bill 
recognizes how important faith-based outreach is.

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