[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 19]
[Senate]
[Pages 27103-27104]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   NATIONAL LATINO AIDS AWARENESS DAY

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, October 15 is the fifth annual National 
Latino AIDS Awareness Day, NLAAD. I rise in observance of this 
important day to increase our understanding of the Latino community's 
struggle with the HIV/AIDS epidemic. As we draw attention to the 
devastating impact of the HIV/AIDS crisis on the Nation's Latino 
population, let us recognize the resulting call to action as well.
  When America first observed the annual National Latino AIDS Awareness 
Day in 2003, we took stock of the dismaying statistics on HIV/AIDS 
among Latinos. Even though they comprise 14 percent of the U.S. 
population, they accounted for 19 percent of the new HIV infections 
estimated to occur in the country each year. Over 71,000 Latinos were 
thought to be living with AIDS, constituting one-fifth of all AIDS 
patients in America. Of those, teens and women were among the Latino 
population subgroups considered especially hard hit by the HIV/AIDS 
epidemic.
  These troubling disparities persist today. Latinos continue to be 
overrepresented among HIV/AIDS patients, the greater barriers they face 
in accessing care have not gone away, and too many remain in the dark 
about the importance of prevention. While advances in medical 
technology have improved the outcome for HIV/AIDS patients in general, 
these benefits are also not reaching Latinos on par with the rest of 
the population. Underlying all these statistics is the sobering message 
that HIV/AIDS still devastates real people and real families across the 
Latino community. It is a message with special significance for me as 
the senior Senator from Nevada, where 18 percent of the newly diagnosed 
are Latinos.
  We must be mindful of other statistics that provide context. 
According to the U.S. Census, individuals of Latino or Hispanic origin 
numbered over 44 million in 2005. They are also the fastest growing 
minority group in the Nation. In Nevada alone, the Hispanic population 
has soared by 40 percent from 2000 to 2005.
  All these factors highlight the need to reverse the course of the 
epidemic among Latinos, if we are to make headway against HIV/AIDS in 
America. Fortunately, the disparities and challenges facing the Latino 
community also point to the steps we can take. From teaching health 
care providers to deliver culturally competent care to funding vital 
programs like the Ryan White CARE Act, these steps are critical to 
winning the fight against HIV/AIDS.
  Educating and engaging the public remains a cornerstone of our 
efforts. In

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southern Nevada, for example, nonprofit organizations are partnering 
with public health officials to provide HIV testing and information to 
the public in observance of National Latino AIDS Awareness Day. Similar 
events are expected to take place across the Nation.
  National Latino AIDS Awareness Day is a time not just to spread the 
word about HIV/AIDS issues specific to the Latino community. It is also 
a day of hope, an opportunity to reflect on the milestones we have 
reached and to reaffirm the goals and ideals of this day. So, in 
looking toward the future, let us all renew our commitment to ending 
the HIV/AIDS crisis--among Latinos and all Americans everywhere.

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