[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 155 (Wednesday, December 1, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2029]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             WORLD AIDS DAY

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                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 1, 2010

  Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize December 1, 2010, 
as ``World AIDS Day''. This day was designated as such in 1988 by the 
World Health Organization and from then on, we have continued to uphold 
the tradition.
  As we embark upon the thirtieth year of the HIV/AIDS virus, we should 
reflect on so many Americans and others around the world that have died 
from this devastating disease. My district of Brooklyn, New York is 
considered the epicenter of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the United States 
for African Americans, women, adolescents, and children. With this 
alarming revelation, 87 percent, of which 7 percent are under the age 
of 13, are persons of color living with the HIV/AIDS virus. Brooklyn 
has been heavily affected by this deadly disease for over the past 
three decades and we have the city's highest prevalence rates. It was 
estimated that 27,000 Brooklyn residents were living with HIV/AIDS in 
2008, and 1,027 were newly diagnosed. There are several thousand more 
who are infected with the virus, but don't even know it! That's why it 
is critical to get this message out across the nation: get tested, it 
could save your life.
  Today, on World AIDS Day, the mayor of my home state of New York, 
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg announced a new initiative to fight against 
HIV/AIDS called ``Brooklyn Knows''. This is a community-based test 
effort that aims to help a half-million Brooklyn residents learn their 
HIV status over the next four yours. It highlights the city's 
leadership to date in making HIV testing a routine part of health care.
  Like the World Health Organization and my great state of New York, I 
want to encourage everyone to take a stand by putting in place 
preventive mechanisms to eradicate this deadly disease. I want to be 
clear that I am not asking you to solve this epidemic alone, but I feel 
it is our responsibility to take whatever steps and measures are 
necessary to put into place mandatory requirements for our medical 
providers to offer voluntary HIV testing to their patients.
  Once again, I ask that we all take a stand and make a difference to 
ensure another life is saved from this deadly disease.

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