[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 173 (Tuesday, December 1, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1683-E1684]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   COMMEMORATING WORLD AIDS DAY 2015

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JIM McDERMOTT

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 1, 2015

  Mr. McDERMOTT. Mr. Speaker, December 1st is World AIDS Day. This past 
weekend Americans celebrated the Thanksgiving holiday. It is a time of 
reflection and appreciation. Similarly, World AIDS Day is a moment for 
us to reflect on our past challenges, appreciate the great strides we 
have made, and acknowledge that serious work remains to eradicate the 
disease. Congress has played a vital role, and our future success 
requires continued Congressional action and vigilance.
   Today, we can take heart in the knowledge that new HIV infections 
worldwide have decreased by 35% since 2000. The President's Emergency 
Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) has been a vanguard effort through which 
rates of infection have dropped in areas of the world hit the hardest 
by the epidemic. Its initiatives are critical to saving lives and 
preventing new infections.

[[Page E1684]]

   Our efforts abroad are not just about where the disease is located, 
but also who it impacts. From decreasing mother-to-child transmission 
and addressing the nuances of co-infections and co-morbidities to 
confronting the stigmas that undermine prevention and hinder access to 
life-saving healthcare, we are better positioned to confront the 
disease in all its stages and improve the quality of life for those 
living with the disease.
   Complementing this effort is our continued march forward on the 
scientific front. While we have made great strides in drug development, 
this effort has been hampered by Congress' reluctance to fully support 
basic research in the sciences through the National Institutes of 
Health. Furthermore, we must work hard to ensure that treatment is 
accessible to everyone across the socio-economic spectrum, both 
domestically and internationally.
   I served as a medical officer with the U.S. State Department in sub-
Saharan Africa just as the full force of the AIDS epidemic became 
readily apparent. Infection was, by and large, a death sentence. Today, 
with anti-viral treatments we can talk about people living with AIDS, 
but this also reminds us that confronting the disease is more than just 
biology, but also public health and the social impact of the disease. 
One of my first accomplishments as a Member of Congress was to work 
with my colleagues to pass legislation that ensures those with AIDS 
have access to housing. Today, the Housing Opportunities for People 
with AIDS program (HOPWA) continues to help ensure that those living 
with AIDS affordable housing and contributes to the stability needed to 
promote adherence to treatment regimens.
   Today, we see overall declines in infection rates, but we must 
acknowledge that in some communities, this is not the case. While most 
sub-Saharan countries of Africa have seen decreases in rates of 
infection, this has not been the case in Angola and Uganda. Similarly, 
in the United States we see a geographical shift in rates of infection 
with the southeastern United States showing higher rates than other 
parts of the country. If past is precedent, meeting these challenges 
must start with a strong commitment to education, based in science, and 
dedicated to empowering communities through knowledge to confront the 
disease.
   As we commemorate World AIDS Day this year, we can draw inspiration 
from our international response to the AIDS epidemic. Rather than a 
fearful reaction, ill-equipped because of ignorance, and disengaged 
because of empty rhetoric, the United States is rising to meet the 
challenge of an AIDS-free generation; motivated by compassion and the 
pursuit of wellbeing, armed with science, and committed through the 
dedication of resources. We can take pride in how far we have come, but 
our success must not breed a false sense of security. Our work is not 
done and Congress must provide the resources needed to ensure the 
United States government maintains its leadership role, both at home 
and abroad, in the effort to make an AIDS-free generation a reality.

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