[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 113 (Thursday, June 18, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E554]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING JUAN RODRIGUEZ AS A DISTINGUISHED LEADER IN CENTRAL FLORIDA 
                            FOR PRIDE MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. DARREN SOTO

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 18, 2020

  Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, Juan has invested 19 years working in the 
HIV arena. In 2001, he promised his partner, who was dying from AIDS, 
that he would devote his life to helping individuals infected with HIV 
and to eradicating the disease.
  In 2016, under the guidance and direction of Dr. Roberto Ortiz, Juan 
started Bliss CARES, a nonprofit organization in Orlando. The mission 
of Bliss CARES is to save lives by treating and preventing the spread 
of HIV, Hepatitis and STD's. They strive to serve every person who 
walks through their doors, regardless of ability to pay. Bliss CARES 
has provided FREE HIV, STD and Hepatitis testing and services to more 
than 1987 clients and has spent over $1.8 million on their much-needed 
medical care.
  While leading a caring, and results driven team, Juan has created 5 
lifesaving programs for Central Florida. These include:
  TRANSformation, a 7-part conversational educational program to assist 
the Transgender community and sponsors name changes for transgender 
persons interested in the process;
  Sweet Dreams Emergency Housing, an innovative program created to help 
Transgender individuals have a safe place to sleep that includes 
services for mental health counseling and substance abuse;
  the Bliss Health Insurance Subsidy Program, which grants lifesaving 
medical care to STD positive individuals without insurance and
  the Bridge Program, which provides access to medical care, treatment, 
mental health, laboratory tests, vaccines, transportation, and grants 
copay assistance for medications and doctor's visits. The program was 
designed to provide comprehensive medical care to the uninsured and 
underinsured populations who have a STD or need preventive care.
  Last, but not least, Juan's nonprofit grants free access to the PrEP 
and PEP-Program, one designed to provide immediate care for all 
individuals who believe they may have been exposed to the HIV virus. 
This program prevents HIV from entering the blood stream, thus reducing 
HIV cases in Central Florida.