[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Page 18649]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                             WORLD AIDS DAY

  Mr. NELSON of Florida. Mr. President, musicians Bono and Alicia Keys 
are in Washington, DC, today to meet with Presidents Obama, Clinton, 
and Bush about what is next in the global battle against AIDS. They 
note that we are reaching a tipping point on combating HIV/AIDS 
worldwide, which is why they and many others, including myself, believe 
continued U.S. leadership is critical.
  It is fitting that this gathering is taking place today--World AIDS 
Day. We all should remember that HIV/AIDS has claimed the lives of more 
than 550,000 Americans so far, while 1.1 million others are living with 
the disease.
  Florida has been hit particularly hard: about 100,000 people are 
living with HIV/AIDS. Florida has the longest waiting list of low-
income residents waiting for assistance with the high cost of 
lifesaving medications. More than 3,000 Floridians are on that list; 
and, alarmingly, the number could grow as the State considers cutting 
more than 1,600 who already are in the government-backed program.
  Federal, State, and local governments must understandably tighten 
their belts. But focusing on such short-term savings is horribly 
shortsighted. For several reasons, these cuts will only lead to higher 
costs to taxpayers in the long run--cases will become more difficult to 
manage, transmission rates are likely to increase, and patients will 
more frequently need expensive care in emergency rooms and hospitals.
  We must also remain committed to the goals of the President's 
Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief globally. Among the goals are to prevent 
more than 12 million new HIV infections and provide care for more than 
12 million people, including 5 million orphans and children around the 
world.

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