[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 3]
[House]
[Pages 3070-3076]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF NATIONAL BLACK HIV/AIDS AWARENESS 
                                  DAY

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 35) supporting the goals and ideals 
of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 35

       Whereas the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the United States has 
     shifted primarily to the African-American community and other 
     communities of color;
       Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
     (CDC) has stated that, at the end of 2005, over 188,000 
     African Americans were living with AIDS, representing 44 
     percent of all cases in the United States;
       Whereas since the beginning of the epidemic, African 
     Americans have accounted for nearly 400,000 or 42 percent of 
     the estimated 953,000 AIDS cases diagnosed, and through 
     December 2005, an estimated 211,559 African Americans with 
     AIDS have died;
       Whereas the CDC has further stated that, in 2005, African 
     Americans accounted for nearly 50 percent of all new HIV 
     infections, despite representing only about 12.3 percent of 
     the population (according to the 2000 Census);
       Whereas the CDC estimates that, in 2005, African-American 
     women accounted for over 66 percent of all HIV/AIDS cases 
     among women, and were 25 times more likely to be infected 
     than White women;
       Whereas the CDC estimates that of the over 18,800 people 
     under the age of 25 whose diagnosis of HIV/AIDS was made 
     during 2001-2004, 61 percent were African-American;

[[Page 3071]]

       Whereas the CDC estimates that 73 percent of all children 
     born to HIV infected mothers in 2004 were African-American;
       Whereas the CDC has determined that the leading cause of 
     HIV infection among African-American men is sexual contact 
     with other men, followed by intravenous drug use and 
     heterosexual contact;
       Whereas the CDC has determined that the leading cause of 
     HIV infection among African-American women is heterosexual 
     contact, followed by intravenous drug use;
       Whereas in 2002, AIDS was among the top three causes of 
     death for African-American men in the age group 25 through 
     54, among the top four causes of death for African-American 
     women in the age group 25 through 54, and the number one 
     cause of death for African-American women aged 25 to 34 
     years;
       Whereas the CDC estimates that, since 1996, African 
     Americans have the poorest survival rates of any racial or 
     ethnic group diagnosed with AIDS, with 64 percent surviving 
     after 9 years compared to 65 percent of American Indians and 
     Alaska Natives, 72 percent of Hispanics, 74 percent of 
     Whites, and 81 percent of Asian Pacific Islanders;
       Whereas African Americans are diagnosed with AIDS later 
     than nonminority counterparts, are confronted with barriers 
     in accessing care and treatment, and face higher morbidity 
     and mortality outcomes;
       Whereas in 1998, the Congress and the Clinton 
     Administration created the National Minority AIDS Initiative 
     to help coordinate funding, build capacity, and provide 
     prevention, care, and treatment services within the African-
     American, Hispanic, Asian Pacific Islander, and Native 
     American communities;
       Whereas the Minority AIDS Initiative assists with 
     leadership development of community-based organizations 
     (CBOs), establishes and links provider networks, builds 
     community prevention infrastructure, promotes technical 
     assistance among CBOs, and raises awareness among African-
     American communities;
       Whereas on February 23, 2001, the first annual National 
     Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day was organized, with the slogan 
     ``Get Educated, Get Involved, Get Tested''; and
       Whereas February 7 of each year is now recognized as 
     National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring),  That the Congress--
       (1) supports the goals and ideals of National Black HIV/
     AIDS Awareness Day and recognizes the seventh anniversary of 
     observing such day;
       (2) encourages State and local governments, including their 
     public health agencies, to recognize such day, to publicize 
     its importance among their communities, and to encourage 
     individuals to undergo testing for HIV;
       (3) encourages national, State, and local media 
     organizations to carry messages in support of National Black 
     HIV/AIDS Awareness Day;
       (4) supports full and equitable funding for the Ryan White 
     HIV/AIDS Treatment Modernization Act of 2006;
       (5) applauds the codification of the Minority AIDS 
     Initiative within the reauthorization of the Ryan White CARE 
     Act;
       (6) supports appropriate funding for HIV/AIDS prevention 
     and treatment;
       (7) supports the strengthening of stable African-American 
     communities;
       (8) supports reducing the impact of incarceration as a 
     driver of new HIV infections within the African-American 
     community;
       (9) supports effective and comprehensive HIV prevention 
     education programs to promote the early identification of HIV 
     through voluntary routine testing, and to connect those in 
     need to treatment and care as early as possible;
       (10) supports reducing the number of HIV infections in the 
     African-American community resulting from injection drug use; 
     and
       (11) supports efforts to link those infected with HIV to 
     accessible care and treatment options.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Towns) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Burgess) each will 
control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.


                             General Leave

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include 
extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, this is a healing moment in the long struggle 
for full and fair recognition for the African American victims of HIV 
and AIDS. I am proud that the Congress and our Nation continues to 
recognize the changing face of the HIV and AIDS. And I urge you to 
unanimously support this resolution.
  In the previous Congress, we spent much time and energy on the issue 
of HIV and AIDS, and rightfully so. I am glad that the Nation and the 
Congress have come together today to support a House resolution that 
recognizes the importance of supporting awareness in African American 
communities across this Nation.
  This is a special moment for me, because the HIV/AIDS crisis has hit 
the national African American community, and my own district in 
Brooklyn, New York has been hit real hard. So it is critical for 
Congress today to say to the Nation that this issue at this time is 
important, just as we did in the last session when we included for the 
first time the Minority AIDS Initiative in the Ryan White 
reauthorization.
  I am particularly pleased that today's Congress is recognizing the 
goals and ideals of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. The 
importance of prevention and testing in African American communities is 
very, very important, the need for full and equitable treatment of the 
disease in communities of color.
  My colleagues will speak to other aspects of the resolution. However, 
we are united in our support for strengthening the public health 
infrastructure to assist African American communities in fighting this 
epidemic.
  I urge my colleagues to vote for this critical resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Concurrent Resolution 
35. I was proud to be a cosponsor of this legislation. This legislation 
recognizes the goals and ideals of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness 
Day.
  Wednesday, February 7, 2007 marks the ninth annual National Black 
HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. This day serves to commemorate the importance 
of educating African Americans and, indeed, the entire community about 
the need to get tested, understand the results of that testing, what it 
means, and get treatment if they are currently living with HIV or AIDS 
or are newly diagnosed.
  National Black HIV/AIDS Day is an important reminder that African 
Americans continue to be impacted by the disease and that local 
communities should work together to provide avenues to prevent new 
infections, as well as ensuring that those currently living with the 
diagnosis have access to available services for their treatment and for 
their care.
  Each year, 20,000 African Americans are newly infected with HIV. 
African American men and women are among the hardest hit populations in 
the United States, and in 2004 they accounted for fully half of all of 
the new HIV diagnoses in this country and more than a third of the AIDS 
deaths to date.
  Department statistics show that racial and ethnic minorities 
represent the highest number of new AIDS cases. More than 75 percent of 
the people living with AIDS are racial and ethnic minorities, and HIV 
has become a leading cause of death for African Americans.
  Mr. Speaker, in my own district in north Texas, a few facts about the 
HIV epidemic in Tarrant County. The average HIV rate per 100,000 
population for Tarrant County, Texas is 25, but for the African 
American community it is fully three times that amount at 76.
  The average AIDS rate per 100,000 population for Tarrant County, 
Texas is 13, but for the African American community, again, that number 
is tripled to 35.
  While we saw a spike of AIDS cases in the mid-1990s, and then a 
decline in the late 1990s, rates have begun again to increase from 1999 
to 2003 and continue to climb upwards.
  In the State of Texas, almost half of all of the HIV and AIDS 
diagnoses are African Americans, 42 percent and 40 percent 
respectively. And in my home county of Tarrant County, there is no 
bigger advocate and activist for the African Americans who are living 
with this diagnosis than retired Judge Mary Ellen Hicks, and I thank 
her for her service in making all of us aware of this problem.

[[Page 3072]]

  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this important 
resolution commemorating National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1500

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I would be happy to yield 4 minutes to the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee), who has been fighting on this 
issue from the day that she arrived in the United States Congress.
  Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, first let me thank the gentleman from New York 
for yielding, Mr. Towns, for your leadership, and for managing this 
bill today, which is very important for not only my community but for 
your community and for all our communities throughout the country. And 
I want to thank Mr. Dingell, also Mr. Burgess, for your leadership and 
for your support for this effort.
  Also let me thank our staff for helping us bring this bill to the 
floor. Especially I want to thank our leadership's staff, Mr. Towns's, 
Mr. Burgess's, Mr. Dingell's staff, Mr. Barton's staff; as well as my 
staff, Christos Tesentas, for their very competent and their very 
effective work. This is not a Democratic or a Republican issue. It is a 
bipartisan issue. And our staffs have really exemplified, I think, the 
best of what staff can do to work together on something this important.
  Two days from now, on February 7, we will commemorate, and it is 
unfortunate that we have to commemorate this, the seventh National 
Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, a day when we urge African Americans to 
get educated, to get involved, and to get tested.
  The numbers are startling, Mr. Speaker, especially for African 
American women. According to the CDC, in 2005 African American women 
accounted for 66 percent of all new HIV/AIDS cases among women, and 
this is climbing as we speak. It is probably now closer to 70 percent. 
And we are 25 times more likely to be infected than white women. Today, 
AIDS is the number one cause of death among African American women 
between the ages of 25 and 34. Think about that for a minute. The 
number one cause of death. Young women.
  Black gay men are also affected by this disease. A recent CDC study 
found, and this was in 2005 again, that 46 percent, 46 percent, of 
black gay men in five U.S. cities were HIV positive.
  This is simply outrageous. These statistics are quite staggering.
  At the end of last year, we took a positive bipartisan step forward 
to address the spread of HIV and AIDS among the African American 
community by ensuring the Minority AIDS Initiative, initiated by a 
great leader on this issue, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, and Donna 
Christensen in 1999. We were able to finally formally include this in 
the Ryan White CARE Act. Now we really do have a responsibility to go 
even further. We could start by funding the Minority AIDS Initiative at 
a minimum of $610 million and by fully funding the Ryan White Treatment 
Modernization Act.
  But we must also go beyond the money and get at the factors that are 
ultimately driving this epidemic among African American people, African 
American men and women. Poverty and discrimination, the lack of 
affordable housing, the unequal impact of the disproportionate rates of 
incarceration among black men, poor access to care, limited cultural 
competency for health workers, all of these deserve our attention and 
deserve action.
  Mr. Speaker, the color of our skin really should never determine our 
health status or the quality of care we receive. Unfortunately, today 
to be black is to be at greater risk of HIV and AIDS. And, 
unfortunately, this disease is really increasing among Latinos and the 
Asian Pacific American community. So we must do much more for everyone.
  As Members of Congress, we have a responsibility to do just that, to 
change these statistics. It is not an ideological issue, and, Mr. 
Towns, you know this is not an ideological issue. It is a moral and 
humanitarian call for equality and for justice.
  So I urge my colleagues to join us in stopping the spread of this 
global pandemic, a priority not only throughout the world but also here 
at home. In Toronto, Canada Congresswomen Waters, Christensen, and 
myself, we participated in a very effective and very profound 
international AIDS conference this past year. There were pledges made 
to make HIV and AIDS a priority with civil rights groups. The NAACP and 
many of our organizations that have been working for justice and civil 
rights for many years now understand and are on the front lines in 
terms of making HIV and AIDS a major, major priority.
  So let me just say it is a very important day. This is a very 
important resolution, and I urge both sides of the House to vote for H. 
Con. Res. 35.
  Again, I want to thank Mr. Burgess and Mr. Towns for your leadership 
and for yielding the time today.
  Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to yield 3 minutes to the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Waters), who has really been involved 
in this issue, and I have worked very closely with her.
  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman from New 
York for bringing this resolution before this House. His work is very 
important on this issue.
  And I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 35, supporting the goals and 
ideals of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.
  The first annual National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day was organized 
on February 23, 2001, with the message ``Get Educated, Get Involved, 
Get Tested.''
  Unfortunately, African Americans have been gravely impacted by the 
AIDS epidemic. Unfortunately, African Americans account for half of the 
new AIDS cases, although we are only 13 percent of the population. 
Worse yet is the fact that African American women represent 67 percent 
of new AIDS cases among women, and black teenagers represent 66 percent 
of new AIDS cases among teenagers.
  That is why back in 1998 I established the Minority AIDS Initiative, 
with the support of the Congressional Black Caucus and the Clinton 
administration. At that time we received $166 million in funding the 
new initiative, and this initiative for HIV/AIDS treatment and 
prevention programs serving African American and other minority 
communities was very helpful in helping to build capacity in these 
communities to deal with the problem.
  However, it is not enough. Last year I asked for $610 million, and I 
am renewing my call with the support of the Congressional Black Caucus 
for that amount. But the message ``Get Educated, Get Involved, Get 
Tested'' is an important message for all Americans. Over 1 million 
Americans are living with HIV/AIDS, and 24 to 27 percent of them do not 
know they are infected.
  That is why today I am reintroducing the Routine HIV/AIDS Screening 
Coverage Act. This bill requires health insurance plans to cover 
routine HIV/AIDS tests under the same terms and conditions as other 
routine health screenings.
  I also plan to reintroduce the Stop AIDS in Prison Act, a bill to 
require routine HIV/AIDS screening of all Federal prison inmates upon 
entering prison and again prior to release from prison, as well as 
comprehensive treatment for those who test positive. Routine HIV/AIDS 
screening will allow thousands of African Americans and other infected 
individuals to find out about their infection, begin life-extending 
treatment, and avoid spreading the virus to others.
  I urge my colleagues to support National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness 
Day, and I urge all Americans to educate themselves, act responsibly, 
get involved, and get tested for HIV/AIDS.
  I thank Representative Towns for the attention that he has given to 
this issue.
  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, how much time is remaining?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman has 10\1/2\ minutes remaining.
  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I 
must admit I don't plan to take it all.

[[Page 3073]]

  But let me just say I would like to thank the staff members. I would 
like to thank the leadership of the committees, who, of course, have 
been very involved in this issue because this is a very serious issue.
  People are dying because of the fact that we are not paying enough 
attention to this disease. So I want to thank people like Congresswoman 
Barbara Lee from California, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, and, of 
course, many others who have been there in the forefront indicating the 
fact that the time to do something is now.
  This resolution sort of highlights how important this issue is and 
that we must begin to address it. So I am hoping that the Members of 
the United States Congress will join us in supporting this resolution 
and not only that but to help us get information out to people.
  People need to be tested but not only to be tested. When they are 
tested, they need to have treatment. It is one thing to test; it is 
another thing to have treatment. Just a test to be testing does not 
make a lot of sense. But when you test and then you have a treatment 
program and you get education out, then it makes a lot of sense.
  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. TOWNS. I would be delighted to yield to the gentlewoman from 
California.
  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I see that Congresswoman Barbara Lee is at 
the other microphone. If she, too, may engage in this colloquy.
  Mr. Towns, I was just wondering, in the work that we have all been 
doing, we have been trying so hard to educate all of our young people 
in our communities about HIV and AIDS and how they can take more 
responsibility. We have been fighting for money.
  Do you believe that it would be helpful if we took this resolution 
and made a comprehensive effort, focused effort, to get to the churches 
and to some of the other institutions that are so important in our 
community, disseminate it widely so that we could broaden the 
individuals and groups who are involved in this whole discussion and 
fight against HIV and AIDS?
  Mr. TOWNS. No doubt about it. Reclaiming my time, Mr. Speaker, let me 
say that I think that we need to involve our churches in this battle. 
Not only our churches but also our 501(c)(3) organizations. They need 
to be involved in this as well because we are talking about life and 
death. And the fact is that if we get involved, I think that we can 
begin to turn this around.
  Right now we are not winning the battle, and I think that we need to 
win. In order to win, we have to get all the soldiers involved. And I 
think that the church is crucial. They need to be involved in this 
issue. So we need to try to get the word out to them and hope that they 
will respond in a major kind of way because people are dying that 
really don't have to die if we get this information to them.
  Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. TOWNS. I would be delighted to yield to the gentlewoman from 
California.
  Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. And I am 
delighted that we have a chance to have this colloquy because I would 
like to highlight the importance of getting tested.
  Congresswoman Waters and I and others last year, actually 
approximately 16 Members of Congress, were tested publicly. The 
importance of members of the clergy and Members of Congress and 
leadership getting tested, showing our communities that it is the 
correct thing to do, there is a large percentage of individuals living 
with HIV and AIDS who don't know they have the virus, and in fact, once 
tested the results are confidential.
  There are several tests, but one is a swab test where you get the 
results back within 20 to 30 minutes. Again, the results of those tests 
are very confidential. It is important that ministers and, Mr. Towns, 
you are a great member of the clergy as well as a Member of Congress, 
and your voice in this entire effort is so important because once 
people eliminate that fear, then, in fact, they can move forward and 
get tested and begin to help reduce this pandemic, which is what it is.
  So I want to thank you for giving us a chance to talk about this, 
about getting tested also, because this is one way you actually can 
have a reduction of the incidences of HIV and AIDS very quickly.
  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, reclaiming my time, let me say that I want to 
salute both of you. Ron Dellums, when he was here in the Congress, Ron, 
of course, was really in the forefront of the fighting to get 
additional resources for AIDS patients and AIDS victims, and, of 
course, now you have picked it up and Congresswoman Maxine Waters from 
California. I want to let you know that we really appreciate your 
voices, and I want to let you know that I look forward to working with 
you in the days and months ahead to make certain that we get this 
information out to people that need to have this information because a 
lot of people don't know, and if they don't know, then they don't do 
anything about it. So I want to say to you thank you for helping to get 
the word out to make certain that they do know. I want to thank both of 
you for your hard work in this effort.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support 
of H. Con. Res. 35 supporting the goals and ideals of National Black 
HIV/AIDS Awareness. Established in February 2000, National Black HIV/
AIDS Awareness and Information Day, NBHAAD, is an annual observance day 
that was created to raise awareness among African-Americans about HIV/
AIDS and its devastating impact on African-American communities.
  There is no question that we must continue to mount a massive 
campaign to support the mission of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness 
Day, NBHAAD to build the capacity and increase awareness, participation 
and support for HIV prevention, care and treatment among African-
Americans. February 7, 2007 marks the seventh year of this annual 
event. The day is part of a national mobilization effort to get 
African-Americans to learn more about the threat posed by the disease, 
get tested, get treated and make a commitment to fight HIV/AIDS. For 
this day and everyday forward we must raise our voices to volumes that 
can be heard across the globe. Unfortunately, for too long we have 
settled for surviving our tragic losses in silence. But listen to these 
screaming statistics:
  According to CDC estimates, at the end of 2005, African-Americans 
accounted for 44 percent of all individuals living with AIDS--188,000.
  In 2005, African-Americans accounted for nearly 50 percent of all new 
HIV infections, despite representing only about 12.3 percent of the 
population, according to the 2000 Census.
  In 2005, African-American women represented 66 percent of all new 
HIV/AIDS cases among women, and were 25 times more likely to be 
infected than White women.
  CDC estimates that 73 percent of all children born to HIV infected 
mothers in 2004 were African-American.
  With an estimated 38.6 million people worldwide living with HIV at 
the end of 2005, and more than 25 million people having died of AIDS 
since 1981, NBHAAD serves to remind everyone that action makes a 
difference in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Let there be no mistake; we 
are here to acknowledge that AIDS is a deadly enemy against which we 
must join all our forces to fight and eliminate.
  Though I stand here today in recognition of National Black HIV/AIDS 
Awareness Day, Americans should be reminded that HIV/AIDS does not 
discriminate. With an estimated 1,039,000 to 1,185,000 HIV-positive 
individuals living in the U.S., and approximately 40,000 new infections 
occurring every year, the U.S., like other nations around the world is 
deeply affected by HIV/AIDS.
  Mr. Speaker, there is no doubt that AIDS is devastating the African-
American community. As of February 2006, African-Americans represented 
only 13 percent of the U.S. population, but accounted for 40 percent of 
the 944,306 AIDS cases diagnosed since the start of the epidemic and 
approximately half, 49 percent of the 42,514 cases diagnosed in 2004 
alone. African-Americans also account for half of new HIV/AIDS 
diagnoses in the 35 States/areas with confidential name-based 
reporting.
  The AIDS case rate per 100,000 population among African-American 
adults/adolescents was nearly 10.2 times that of Whites in 2004. 
African-Americans accounted for 55 percent of deaths due to HIV in 2002 
and their survival

[[Page 3074]]

time after an AIDS diagnosis is lower on average than it is for other 
racial/ethnic groups. HIV was the third leading cause of death for 
African-Americans, ages 25-34, in 2002 compared to the sixth leading 
cause of death for Whites and Latinos in this age group.
  African-American women and children have been disproportionately 
victimized by this deadly disease. African-American women account for 
the majority of new AIDS cases among women--67 percent in 2004; White 
women account for 17 percent and Latinas 15 percent. Among African-
Americans, African-American women represent more than a third, 36 
percent of AIDS cases diagnosed in 2004. Although African-American 
teens, ages 13-19, represent only 15 percent of U.S. teenagers, they 
accounted for 66 percent of new AIDS cases reported among teens in 
2003. We must continue to forge a tough fight to reverse all of these 
costly trends.
  Mr. Speaker, combating this crisis will take a team effort. All of 
us--researchers, legislators, clergy, community organizers and 
activists and others--must work tirelessly to find solutions and to 
help so that our work will bring forth a wealth of wisdom that creates 
a climate of compassionate care and healing.
  Let us go forth as warriors, renewed in our commitment to stand in 
solidarity with everyone who has been affected by HIV and AIDS, and let 
us be encouraged in our efforts to comfort the afflicted and confront 
the passiveness of so many who contribute to the spread of this deadly 
disease; and let us be emboldened to speak out in our own communities 
so that silence may no more mask the ringing alarms of rapidly rising 
infection rates.
  I hope that our inner human spirits will move us to a place and time 
where we no longer turn our heads and close our eyes to those 
communities who need our help the most. We must find the strength to 
look past our fears and find compassion to create a world where no man, 
woman or child is confronted with the perils of this current AIDS 
crisis.
  Mr. Speaker, I strongly support the goal of NBHAAD to motivate 
African-Americans to get tested and know their HIV status; get educated 
about the transmission modes of HIV/AIDS; get involved in their local 
community; and get treated if they are currently living with HIV or are 
newly diagnosed.
  Let me take this moment to recognize a major inspiration for NBHAAD, 
Mr. Louis E. Harris, 1947-2003, who passed away in January 2003 due to 
complications with bladder cancer. Mr. Harris served as the executive 
director of Concerned Black Men, Inc. of Philadelphia during NBHAAD's 
conception. His work and dedication will be missed along with his kind 
and warm words of encouragement. It is hoped that NBHAAD will continue 
to build the capacity of community based organizations, CBOs, as well 
as community stake holders to increase awareness, prevent HIV and get 
those who need treatment into care. I applaud the efforts of NBHAAD 
advocates to:
  1. Increase reporting of accurate up-to-date statistics on the HIV 
and AIDS epidemic among Blacks by electronic and print media, radio and 
television stations;
  2. Increase collaboration and sharing of resources at the national 
and local levels;
  3. Increase resources and support including capacity building 
assistance for health departments, community based organizations and 
stakeholders serving Black communities; and
  4. Increase the number of Blacks at high risk for acquiring HIV that 
receive HIV counseling, testing and other HIV prevention, treatment and 
care services.
  Observance of this day provides an opportunity for governments, 
national AIDS programs, churches, community organizations and 
individuals to demonstrate the importance of the fight against HIV/
AIDS. Though funding for research is an important key to tackling the 
tragic devastation of HIV/AIDS in our communities, I realize that 
providing funding for research alone is simply not sufficient to 
eradicate the high rates of HIV/AIDS cases within the African-American 
community. We must also provide funding for prevention and education.
  Billions and billions of private and Federal dollars have been poured 
into drug research and development to treat and ``manage'' infections, 
but the complex life cycle and insane mutation rates of HIV strains 
have made these efforts futile in the fight to remove HIV/AIDS as a 
global public health threat. Though the drugs we currently have are 
effective in managing infections and reducing mortality by slowing the 
progression to AIDS in an individual, they do little to reduce disease 
prevalence and prevent new infections.
  A thousand drugs that ``manage'' infection will not suffice. We can 
make and market drugs until we have 42 million individually tailored 
treatments, but so long as a quarter of those infected remain detached 
from the importance of testing, we have no chance of ending or even 
``managing'' the pandemic. Currently, the only cure we have for HIV/
AIDS is prevention. While we must continue efforts to develop advanced 
treatment options, it is crucial that those efforts are accompanied by 
dramatic increases in public health education and prevention measures.
  During my time in office, I have fully and eagerly supported all 
legislation that has given increased attention to HIV/AIDS, including 
the Ryan White CARE Act, which is currently slated to receive about 
$2.2 billion in funding for FY2007. I have supported legislation to 
reauthorize funding for community health centers--H.R. 5573, Health 
Centers Renewal Act of 2006--including the Montrose and Fourth Ward 
clinics right here in Houston, as well as supported legislation to 
provide more nurses for the poor urban communities in which many of 
these centers are located--H.R. 1285, Nursing Relief Act for 
Disadvantaged Areas. I have also supported and introduced legislation 
aimed to better educate our children--H.R. 2553, Responsible Education 
About Life Act in 2006) and eliminate health disparities--H.R. 3561, 
Healthcare Equality and Accountability Act and the Good Medicine 
Cultural Competency Act in 2003, H.R. 90. And I will continue to 
endorse and push for similar legislation.
  Twenty-five years from now, I hope that we will not be discussing 
data on prevalence and mortality, but rather how our sustained efforts 
at elimination have come into fruition. But if we are ever to have that 
discussion, there are a number of actions that we must take right now. 
We must continue research on treatments and antiretroviral therapies, 
as well as pursue a cure. And we absolutely have to ensure that 
everyone who needs treatment receives it. In order to do this, we have 
to increase awareness of testing, access to testing, and the accuracy 
of testing. How can we stop this pandemic if we are unable to track it?
  We must also increase funding for local health departments and 
community health clinics, as well as fully fund the Ryan White CARE 
Act. Lastly, but perhaps most importantly, it is imperative that we 
work to increase funding for HIV prevention and education, so that our 
children will be equipped with sufficient and appropriate knowledge of 
this growing threat within our communities, especially within our Black 
communities and among Black women. If Blacks are 11 times as likely to 
acquire infection, then we need to make 11 times the effort to educate. 
And we need to apply similar efforts in every community until HIV/AIDS 
becomes a memory. If not, our friends and family will be memories 
instead.
  I would like to take a moment to applaud the enormous efforts of 
community volunteers from churches and other organizations which have 
done commendable work across our Nation. I think everyone can learn 
something from their selflessness and their will to serve their 
communities. We need more people to follow their lead. We do not have 
time for excuses or hesitation. We have the passion and dedication, and 
we are securing more and more resources. It is up to us to get the 
resources where they are needed. I know a lot of people don't want to 
take things seriously until it hits home; until a brother or a sister 
or a son or a daughter falls victim to our blithe and ignorance. We 
cannot afford nor do we want to bear that cost; however, if we continue 
to sit by and wait for the next person to act, we may all have brothers 
and sisters and sons and daughters with HIV/AIDS.
  We need to be proactive and act with unprecedented urgency. Now is 
not the time to get comfortable. If you feel like you're getting 
comfortable, just remember that there is a face to every number, to 
every statistic. This is not a hypothetical or theoretical or 
metaphysical phenomenon. There are no imaginary numbers in this 
equation; only real people. And I am confident that we can protect and 
save real people with increased efforts.
  I will continue work tirelessly to keep the spotlight on this dark 
disease that is devastating many people in the African-American 
community, United States and around the world. My hope is that all of 
our efforts will lead to the elimination of HIV and AIDS not just from 
the African-American community but from every community. I urge my 
colleagues to support H. Con. Res. 35 supporting the goals of National 
Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.
  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in 
favor of H. Con. Res. 35, in support of the seventh anniversary of 
goals and ideals of National Blacks HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.
  This concurrent resolution will raise awareness about HIV/AIDS within 
the African American community and will point out the devastating 
impact this disease has on African American communities.
  This day is a part of a national mobilization effort to get African 
Americans to learn about

[[Page 3075]]

the threat that HIV/AIDS poses to the African American community.
  The National Blacks HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is a day to remember those 
infected and affected by this epidemic. Since the beginning of this 
epidemic, 42 percent of all deaths occurred within the African American 
community.
  Dallas accounts for one of the top 26 cities where African Americans 
are disproportionately impacted by AIDS.
  From 2000 to 2005, more than half of new HIV/AIDS diagnoses in 32 
states were among African Americans, although African Americans 
represented only 13 percent of the population of those states.
  In 2004, black men had the highest rate of HIV/AIDS diagnoses of any 
racial/ethnic population, approximately seven times the rate among 
white men and twice the rate among black women.
  Black women are also severely impacted by HIV. During 2000-2004, 
approximately 69 percent of women who had HIV/AIDS diagnosed were 
black.
  We must take the lead in supporting National Blacks HIV/AIDS 
Awareness Day. We must continue to educate/prevent and care for our 
members who have been affected by this atrocious epidemic and continue 
the fight against HIV/AIDS.
  Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this important 
resolution supporting the goals and ideals of National Black HIV/AIDS 
Awareness Day.
  HIV/AIDS is one of the worst epidemics we have ever seen in the 
United States. More than 900,000 cases of AIDS have been reported in 
the US since 1981. Nearly 1,000,000 people may be infected with HIV, 
one quarter of them is unaware about their infection.
  In my hometown New York City more than 100,000 people are living with 
HIV. Approximately 1 in 70 New Yorkers is infected with HIV.
  Statistics just help us to number the dimension of HIV/AIDS in our 
country but every single number reflects more, reflects the life and 
the living with HIV/AIDS of one of our fellow citizen.
  While we are far away from curing AIDS, science has made enormous 
progress.
  Today, we can say that early and correct treatment enables people to 
live longer and to live with HIV/AIDS more as a chronic illness than a 
definitive death sentence.
  Even with these opportunities, we face new challenges.
  The African-American community is disproportionately affected by HIV/
AIDS.
  According to the New York City Department of Health and Mental 
Hygiene, black women are 9 times more likely to die of AIDS than white 
women; black men in New York City are 6 times more likely to die of 
AIDS than white men.
  This is another sign of the massive health disparities that exist in 
our nation. We need to work together, all of us in Congress, to address 
and eliminate the disparities in health and health care between the 
people of our country.
  That is why I strongly support the National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness 
Day, celebrated on February, 7.
  The goal of this day is clear to all of us: We have to fight against 
both the stigma and the spread of HIV/AIDS in our African-American 
community, and I would add, in every American community.
  Groups like Bronx AIDS Services and the AIDS Center of Queens County 
do excellent work, but we in Washington need to back them up with the 
right support.
  This includes full funding for Ryan White, ensuring the housing needs 
of those afflicted are met through the HOPWA program, and eliminating 
the stigmas attached to the illness.
  We also need to allow each community group to speak to and target 
those at greatest risk of exposure in the most effective ways possible.
  But overall, we know that educating about and against HIV/AIDS, 
engaging in safe sex, and getting tested are the main elements of 
comprehensive prevention efforts.
  Closing, I like to emphasize the importance of the National Black 
HIV/AIDS Awareness Day by quoting its goals:
  Get tested to know about your HIV status.
  Get educated about HIV/AIDS.
  Get involved in your local community.
  Get treated if you are currently living with HIV.
  It is these missions that we must work to achieve.
  I thank the gentle lady for her resolution.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, reports have been coming out since the 
HIV/AIDS epidemic first surfaced in the United States more than 25 
years ago and every year, they have--and continue to--report the same 
findings: Since the beginning, this epidemic has had--and continues to 
have--a disproportionate and detrimental impact on the African American 
community. In fact, over time, the impact of the epidemic on the Black 
community has gotten worse, leaving African Americans--more so than any 
other population group--hardest hit by HIV/AIDS at every stage of life.
  Today, African Americans--who are represented in about 13 percent of 
the U.S. population--account for more than 40 percent of all 
individuals currently living with AIDS and nearly 50 percent of all new 
HIV infections. More than 7 in 10 children born to women infected with 
HIV are African American and the AIDS case rate among African Americans 
is nearly ten times higher than that among whites. Additionally, 
African Americans account for 40 percent of all AIDS deaths. In fact, 
African Americans are 7 times more likely than whites to die from an 
AIDS-related causes.
  Particularly affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic are African American 
women, who are represented in roughly 7 in 10 new AIDS cases among 
women and who are an estimated 25 times more likely than white women to 
be infected with HIV. In fact, in 2002, AIDS was the leading cause of 
death for African-American women, aged 25 to 34 years of age.
  Mr. Speaker, this epidemic has and continues to kill African 
Americans during their most productive life years, robbing them of 
their opportunity to follow their dreams, pursue their destinies and 
contribute not only to their communities, but to our society. As a 
physician who has seen--first hand--what the HIV/AIDS epidemic does not 
only to the people it afflicts, but to their families, friends, and 
communities, and given the incidence and prevalence numbers, the 
unnecessary, often-premature deaths, and the unbelievable toll that 
this epidemic has in the African American community, I feel strongly 
that the time has come for us to do more. We can do more, and we must.
  I, therefore, rise today in strong and unwavering support of H. Con. 
Res. 35, which supports the goals and ideals of National Black HIV/AIDS 
Awareness Day. Recognized on February 7, National Black HIV/AIDS 
Awareness Day--which reaches its 7th anniversary of being observed this 
year--is a critically important day because it raises awareness about 
the disastrous impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic on the African American 
community.
  We all should support H. Con. Res. 35 and on February 7, 2007, we 
should observe National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day in a manner that 
is consistent with its intent. We should publicize the importance of 
being informed about HIV/AIDS and about ones HIV status, and we should 
encourage our friends in the media to deliver messages stressing the 
importance of getting educated, involved and tested. Additionally, I 
urge all of my colleagues, on February 7 and beyond, to: encourage de-
stigmatization of the disease among African Americans; expand voluntary 
testing because knowledge is power; work to reduce the social 
determinants of health--such as poverty and lack of education--that put 
people at greater risk for HIV infection; ensure that incarcerated and 
ex-offender populations have access to adequate and realistic HIV 
prevention methods, receive voluntary and confidential HIV testing and, 
if necessary, are rolled into adequate HIV/AIDS-related care, treatment 
and services; expand access to culturally appropriate substance abuse 
prevention programs, as well as to drug treatment and recovery 
services; and create the necessary political to fully fund the Minority 
AIDS Initiative in the amount of at least $610 million in order to 
target needed funds to build capacity in minority communities to give 
those who are hardest hit by HIV/AIDS a fighting chance.
  Mr. Speaker, our new political climate has brought us a new day. As 
the Chair of the CBC Health Braintrust, I am asking all of my 
colleagues to seize that new day and to support H. Con. Res. 35, to 
observe National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day on February 7 and to use 
it as a day to commit to act with cognizance of the impact that this 
epidemic has on the African American community.
  Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise in recognition of National Black 
HIV/AIDS Awareness Day and to show my support for its goals and ideals.
  Domestically, the HIV/AIDS crisis in the United States continues to 
have a disproportionate impact on African Americans in terms of 
illness, survival times, and deaths. According to the Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention, HIV/AIDS is a leading cause of death 
for African Americans.
  Each year, the 7th of February marks National Black HIV/AIDS 
Awareness Day, a national community-wide effort to build capacity and 
increase awareness of HIV prevention, testing, education, treatment, 
and support among African Americans, who are at greater risk of HIV/
AIDS infection. National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day reminds us of the 
uneven effect of HIV/AIDS on African Americans

[[Page 3076]]

and provides us with an opportunity to renew our commitment to the 
promise of finding a cure.
  We must do more than just bring attention to this epidemic. We must 
also remain vigilantly committed to prevention programs and to finding 
a cure for HIV/AIDS.
  I invite people throughout the Nation to learn more about HIV/AIDS. I 
urge my colleagues to join me in support of this resolution.
  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues on both 
sides of the aisle to fully support the goals and ideals of National 
Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. In 2005, African Americans accounted for 
nearly 50 percent of all new HIV infections, despite representing 
nearly twelve percent of the total population. The HIV/AIDS infection 
rate among Black men is six times that of white men and the rate among 
Black women is sixteen times that of white women. More children with 
AIDS are African American than all other race and ethnic groups 
combined. There is no question that we must continue to devote 
considerable attention and resources to support the efforts of National 
Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day and its mission to build capacity and 
increase the awareness, participation and support for HIV prevention, 
care and treatment among African Americans in particular. For these 
many reasons, I urge you to support the passage of H. Con. Res. 35, 
National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.
  While a cure for HIV/AIDS remains just beyond our reach, there are 
many known factors that contribute to the devastating effects that HIV/
AIDS continues to have in the African American community in particular. 
For example, we know that the stigmatization surrounding those with 
HIV/AIDS deters many from being tested and learning about treatment 
needed to prolong their lifespan. We also know that economic issues 
such as the need for more inexpensive housing, substantial increases in 
livable wages and affordable health care, weakens community ties making 
it difficult to build capacity, disseminate information and target 
interventions. It is also evident that funds are needed to support 
these initiatives, perform meaningful outreach and provide 
organizations with the resources necessary to serve this vulnerable 
population.
  It is important for us to increase knowledge about preventative 
measures, educational techniques, capacity building and outreach to 
find targeted solutions to the problem of HIV/AIDS in the Black 
Community. In the State of New York alone there are 33,747 Black 
Americans living with HIV/AIDS. Sadly, this number will continue to 
grow at exponential rates without the attention, care and resources 
supported by the National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. While it is 
important to direct resources to Black Americans and others who are 
disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS, we must remember that HIV/AIDS 
does not discriminate. It is estimated that between 1,039,000 and 
1,185,000 infected persons live in the United States and approximately 
40,000 new infections occur each year. Those affected belong to all 
gender, racial, ethnic, religious, socio economic and regional 
configurations. Those affected are mothers and fathers, sisters and our 
brothers, bosses, friends, and children.
  The devastating effect of HIV/AIDS impacts us all. Confronting this 
international crisis will require the collective efforts of 
researchers, legislators, clergy members, community activists and 
organizations, and all others committed to reducing the force of HIV/
AIDS. We must work together to find solutions that are scaleable and 
make possible innovations that result in value adding and sustainable 
positive changes.
  Observance of the National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day provides an 
opportunity for governments, national AIDS programs, churches, 
community organizations and individuals to communicate the importance 
of the fight against HIV/AIDS. If we have any hope of ending 
conversations about the injurious effects of HIV/AIDS, we must 
immediately devote the time, energy and resources needed to educate, 
treat and prevent against future transmission.
  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 
35--Supporting the goals and ideals of National Black HIV/AIDS 
Awareness Day. While we do not yet have a cure, and HIV/AIDS continues 
to consume the lives of Black people, their values and their worth here 
in the United States and in other parts of the world, we know Black 
AIDS Day can help to mobilize our communities to help shift and turn 
this epidemic around.
  In the past decades and sadly still today, HIV infection rates 
continue to escalate at an alarming pace among Black men and women as 
shown by reports year after year. Although Blacks make up around 13 
percent of the population of the United States, they represent 49 
percent of the total AIDS cases reported in this country, according to 
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Sixty-four 
percent of all American women living with HIV/AIDS are black, and this 
disease has become the leading cause of death for black women ages 25 
to 34. Every day, 72 African Americans are infected with HIV in the 
U.S.
  While poverty plays a role and access to health care and lack of 
information are factors, we cannot deny that the main reason for this 
plague is the silence, the closed-mouth social conservatism, of a 
people still ill at ease discussing sexuality, homosexuality, drug use 
and other realities. Instead, we mouth piety, prayers and platitudes.
  We now recognize National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, as declared 
six years ago by the Community Capacity Building Coalition, an 
affiliate of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and we 
cannot remain still. We must work together to ensure that programs for 
prevention remain adequately funded and that programs such as Ryan 
White CARE Act can be used for early detection of HIV so we can use all 
tools available to us to fight this epidemic. Everyone should be 
encouraged to get tested for HIV, learn more about the disease and how 
it is transmitted, seek medical advice if infected, and become involved 
in local community efforts to educate people and fight this disease.
  It is also important that Blacks are at the forefront of clinical 
research to achieve culturally appropriate results for treatment in our 
communities. Some of the biggest challenges we face, particularly in 
the Black community today are the misperceptions of and lack of 
knowledge about HIV/AIDS, and fear related to clinical research.
  I encourage my colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus and the 
rest of Congress to stay committed in their effort in whatever way 
possible to combat this epidemic which has taken too many lives, too 
early, and unnecessarily.

                              {time}  1515

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Towns) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 35, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those voting have responded in the affirmative.
  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this question will 
be postponed.

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