[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 126 (Wednesday, July 26, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1060]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 IN HONOR OF NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLYWOMAN NETTIE MAYERSOHN'S BABY AIDS 
                                  BILL

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. GRACE MENG

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 26, 2017

  Ms. MENG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of former New York State 
Assemblywoman Nettie Mayersohn, and her landmark law, commonly known as 
the ``Baby AIDS'' bill, that was enacted in New York State On June 26, 
1996. The Baby AIDS bill requires mandatory testing of infants for the 
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and HIV antibodies, and authorizes 
disclosing the results to infants' doctors and guardians.
  Before the Baby AIDS bill became law, infants born in New York State 
were tested for the HIV antibody through studies that the New York 
State Department of Health initiated in 1987. But confidentiality laws 
at the time required these tests to be anonymous. Therefore, the 
guardians and doctors of the infants who tested positive were kept in 
the dark about the results. This caused nearly sixty percent of the 
1,500-1,800 infants who tested positive per year to be sent home 
without diagnosis or treatment. As a mother myself, I cannot imagine 
the horror of being legally barred from knowing the health status of my 
child. That is why I am proud to recognize Assemblywoman Mayersohn for 
her relentless efforts on the behalf of New York families.
  When Assemblywoman Mayersohn was informed that existing New York 
State law was preventing babies with HIV from being treated, she 
immediately took action by introducing the Baby AIDS bill in the New 
York State Assembly in 1993. As lawmakers, we all know that bills can 
go through multiple versions and can face criticism from the community. 
The Baby AIDS bill was no different. Assemblywoman Mayersohn worked 
tirelessly to show opposition groups that the Baby AIDS bill would 
allow infants to receive the treatment that they desperately needed and 
their guardians and doctors to be informed about their condition. As 
Assemblywoman Mayersohn said, ``I went to bed with it, and I woke up 
with it.'' Assemblywoman Mayersohn's efforts paid off, and it is no 
wonder that Assemblywoman Mayersohn's colleagues gave her a standing 
ovation after the final version of the Baby AIDS bill passed in the 
assembly in 1996.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to say that due to Assemblywoman Mayersohn's 
hard work, every infant in New York State is legally required to be 
tested for HIV and require hospitals to inform the infant's parent or 
guardian of the results. Statistics gathered soon after the law was 
enacted showed a 98.8 percent success rate in the number of HIV infants 
identified and connected to treatment. According to the New York State 
Health Department, from 1998 to 2013, Assemblywoman Mayersohn's Baby 
Aids law saved an estimated 900 infants from a lifetime of HIV. I am 
truly honored to recognize Assemblywoman Mayersohn, fondly known as 
``Nettie'', and her law that truly improved the quality of life for so 
many New Yorkers.

                          ____________________