[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 79 (Monday, May 24, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H3715-H3716]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
{time} 1445
SENSE OF HOUSE REGARDING HOUSING FUNDING TO COMBAT AIDS
Mr. DONNELLY of Indiana. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules
and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 137) expressing
the sense of the Congress that the lack of adequate housing must be
addressed as a barrier to effective HIV prevention, treatment, and
care, and that the United States should make a commitment to providing
adequate funding for developing housing as a response to the AIDS
pandemic.
The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution.
The text of the concurrent resolution is as follows:
H. Con. Res. 137
Whereas adequate and secure housing for people with human
immunodeficiency virus or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
(HIV/AIDS) is a challenge with global dimensions and adequate
housing is one of the greatest unmet needs of persons in the
United States with HIV/AIDS;
Whereas growing empirical evidence shows that the
socioeconomic circumstances of individuals and groups and
structural factors such as housing status are of equal
importance, or even greater importance, to health status than
medical care and personal health behaviors;
Whereas the link between poverty and disparities in HIV
risk and health outcomes is well established, and new
research findings demonstrate the direct relationship between
inadequate housing and greater risk of HIV infection, poor
health outcomes, and early death;
Whereas rates of HIV infection are 3 to 16 times higher
among persons who are homeless or unstably housed, 70 percent
of all persons living with HIV/AIDS report a lifetime
experience of homelessness or housing instability, and the
HIV/AIDS death rate is 7 to 9 times higher for homeless
adults than for the general population;
Whereas poor living conditions, including overcrowding and
homelessness, undermine safety, privacy, and efforts to
promote self-respect, human dignity, and responsible sexual
behavior;
Whereas homeless and unstably housed persons are 2 to 6
times more likely to use hard drugs, share needles, or
exchange sex for money and housing than similar persons with
stable housing, as the lack of stable housing directly
impacts the ability of people living in poverty to reduce HIV
risk behaviors;
Whereas in spite of the evidence indicating that adequate
housing has a direct positive effect on HIV prevention,
treatment, and health outcomes, the housing resources devoted
to the national response to HIV/AIDS have been inadequate and
housing has been largely ignored in policy discussions at the
international level; and
Whereas the Congress recognized the housing needs of people
with HIV/AIDS in enacting the Housing Opportunities for
Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) program in 1990 as part of the
Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act (Public Law
101-625) and the HOPWA program currently serves 70,000
households: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That it is the sense of the Congress that--
(1) stable and affordable housing is an essential component
of an effective strategy for HIV prevention, treatment, and
care; and
(2) the United States should make a commitment to providing
adequate funding for developing housing as a response to the
AIDS pandemic.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Indiana (Mr. Donnelly) and the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr.
Wilson) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Indiana.
General Leave
Mr. DONNELLY of Indiana. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that
all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and
extend their remarks on this legislation and to insert extraneous
material thereon.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Indiana?
There was no objection.
Mr. DONNELLY of Indiana. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may
consume to the sponsor of this concurrent resolution, the gentleman
from New York (Mr. Nadler).
Mr. NADLER of New York. I thank the gentleman from Indiana for
yielding.
Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of my resolution, H. Con. Res.
137, which expresses the sense of Congress that housing is a key
component of combating the war against HIV and AIDS.
I want to thank Chairman Frank and my colleagues, both parties on the
Financial Services Committee, for bringing this resolution to the
floor, and I call on my colleagues to join me in supporting this
important resolution.
It is remarkable how far we have come as a society in our
understanding of the HIV virus. In the early 1980s and well into the
1990s, an HIV-positive diagnosis was seen as a death sentence.
But nearly three decades after the launch of a global campaign to
study the disease, to develop and disseminate treatment, and to teach
prevention, those who contract HIV now have more than just an elusive
hope for the future. They have a natural reality of living healthy and
productive lives for decades.
Today we have an entire medical, organizational, and legislative
foundation from which we can provide information, medication, and
health care to those who have contracted the disease. Yet, just as
advances are being made to extend and enhance the lives of those
[[Page H3716]]
living with HIV and AIDS, we still have a long way to go in the United
States in order to make sure that everyone benefits.
While we now have effective HIV medications, there are still many
complicating factors in making sure that everyone can get and
successfully use those medications. These drugs can be very expensive,
forcing people to choose between lifesaving drugs and other essentials
such as food, clothing, and housing. In addition, these complex
medications often require refrigeration and precise daily routines and
mealtimes for their administration.
Successfully integrating these drugs into anyone's life has its
complications. For those who are homeless, or who don't know where they
will be sleeping day to day or month to month, the situation is
extremely difficult and often, sadly, life threatening.
Study after study has confirmed the connection between the ability to
remain healthy after being diagnosed with HIV and access to stable
housing.
Here are just a few statistics. According to a 2007 study in the
American Journal of Public Health, housing status is a more significant
predictor of health care access and outcomes than individual
characteristics, insurance status, substance abuse, and mental health
comorbidities, or even service utilization.
Up to 70 percent of all people living with HIV report a lifetime
experience of homelessness or housing instability.
Rates of HIV infection are 16 times higher, 16 times higher, among
those who are homeless or unstably housed compared to similarly
situated people with stable housing.
Up to 14 percent of all homeless people are HIV positive, 10 times
the rate in the general population.
The death rate due to HIV or AIDS among homeless people living with
HIV is seven to nine times the death rate due to HIV-AIDS among the
general population.
The studies are equally clear that ensuring access to stable housing
is cost-effective. According to economic evaluation studies done by
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, providing housing to
those who are HIV positive either helps to save costs associated with
treating these patients, or has similar effects such as those
associated with kidney dialysis and screening for breast and colon
cancer.
If we are to tackle the spread and treatment of HIV and AIDS in our
society, we absolutely must address the need for stable housing for
people with HIV and AIDS. Housing is not a luxury; it's a necessity.
And with stable, safe housing comes better health and healthier habits,
especially for those living with HIV-AIDS.
So I ask my colleagues in both parties to support this resolution so
that we can move toward a sound and comprehensive policy for the
prevention and treatment of HIV-AIDS.
Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time
as I may consume.
House Concurrent Resolution 137 expresses the sense of Congress
regarding adequate housing options for persons with HIV-AIDS. Studies
show that the rates of HIV infection are 3 to 16 times higher among
persons who are homeless or unstably housed, and 70 percent of all
persons living with HIV-AIDS report a lifetime experience of
homelessness.
Currently, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development,
through its Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS, HOPWA,
provides grants to eligible States and cities to provide housing
assistance and related supportive services to meet the housing needs of
low-income persons with HIV-AIDS and their families.
I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of
my time.
Mr. DONNELLY of Indiana. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests
for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Donnelly) that the House suspend the rules
and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 137.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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