[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 12]
[House]
[Page 17221]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                  AIDS SPENDING IN D.C. APPROPRIATIONS

  (Mr. CUMMINGS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, as we consider the D.C. appropriations 
bill, let us not forget our ongoing battle with one of the deadliest 
diseases affecting more than 40 million persons worldwide: AIDS.
  In our Nation alone the number of new cases each year remains at 
40,000, making this a leading cause of death. We have an obligation to 
act. We have seen substantial increases in Federal funding for 
research, education and treatment. The Congressional Black Caucus, 
working with the White House, secured $251 million in funds for 
programs in minority communities. Government-wide AIDS spending is 
estimated at $10 billion in fiscal year 2000.
  Progress has been made, but we must do more. Current research has 
determined that needle exchange programs, which I support, help curtail 
infection rates by more than 10 percent. This deadly infectious disease 
cannot be allowed to spread unchecked. Vote against amendments to the 
D.C. bill that threaten this principle.

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