[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 18025]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        NATIONAL HIV TESTING DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BOBBY L. RUSH

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 27, 2007

  Mr. RUSH. Madam Speaker, today I rise in support of H. Con Res. 169, 
and in recognition of National HIV Testing Day. As I speak, it is 
estimated that 180,000 to 280,000 individuals nationwide are HIV-
positive but unaware of their status.
  Today we commemorate this day because the HIV/AIDS pandemic continues 
to plague our Nation. In Chicago, 22,000 people are living with HIV/
AIDS, and more than 1,000 are infected annually.
  And this disease is disproportionately impacting minorities. People 
of color account for 69 percent of the city's total population but 
represent 81 percent of recently diagnosed adult AIDS cases and 77 
percent of recently diagnosed HIV cases.
  Madam Speaker, these numbers continue to rise and we must do 
everything in our power to educate, prevent, treat and stop the spread 
of this deadly virus.
  Madam Speaker, National HIV/AIDS Testing Day promotes awareness and 
empowers individuals to know their status, learn the facts about HIV 
and AIDS and take the proper steps to protect themselves and their 
communities.
  In closing, I commend all of the organizations and individuals who 
participate in National HIV/AIDS Awareness day.
  I encourage my constituents to get tested and I thank Fellowship 
Missionary Baptist Church, the AIDS Foundation of Chicago, Englewood 
Neighborhood Health Center, the South State Family Health Center, the 
Taylor Family Health Center and others for hosting confidential testing 
services today in Chicago.

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