[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 5108]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




      IN RECOGNITION OF NATIONAL YOUTH HIV AND AIDS AWARENESS DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. G. K. BUTTERFIELD

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 11, 2013

  Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I rise in recognition of National Youth 
HIV and AIDS Awareness Day which occurred yesterday. This day is 
symbolic of communities, government leaders, schools and most 
importantly today's young people leading the effort to end the HIV and 
AIDS pandemic that is still rapidly spreading among our nation's teens 
and young adults more than 30 years after it was first discovered.
  According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, HIV and 
AIDS education and prevention information has made great strides in 
slowing infection and mortality rates, however young people between the 
ages of 13 and 24 account for 26 percent of new HIV infections each 
year, with nearly 60 percent unaware that they are infected.
  The Advocates for Youth organization in conjunction with 11 other 
founding partners are supporting young people in the fight against HIV 
and AIDS. This national day marks an important step toward recognizing 
the key role that future generations play in becoming leaders in 
disease prevention and education.
  Three years ago, the White House unveiled the National HIV/AIDS 
Strategy, our country's first-ever comprehensive plan with measurable 
goals to be achieved by 2015. This plan calls for a renewed commitment 
and increased public attention to meet three goals: reduce the number 
of people who become infected with HIV; increase access to care and 
improve health outcomes for people living with HIV; and reduce HIV-
related health disparities. In outlining these goals, President Obama 
challenged everyone to partner in supporting the implementation of the 
innovative strategy ``that provides a clear direction for moving 
forward together.''
  North Carolina ranks in the top ten states for rates of new HIV 
infection. This alarming statistic is one of the reasons why medical 
professionals such as Dr. Michelle Collins-Ogle, of Northern Outreach 
Clinic in Henderson, North Carolina are so passionate about offering 
illness education, prevention, testing, and medical intervention. Even 
with few resources, Dr. Ogle, the clinic's director, fights not just 
the disease but the perceived stigma of the disease as well.
  As a former civil rights attorney I applaud the efforts of 
organizations who are advocating for the rights of people living with 
HIV and AIDS. Organizations such as the North Carolina AIDS Action 
Network, who mobilized support to persuade the AIDS Drug Assistance 
Program to reopen new enrollments for low-income people needing access 
to life-saving HIV medication. I want to also recognize Duke 
University's AIDS Legal Project, a pro bono program that trains law 
school students to serve the unmet need of providing legal counsel to 
highly stigmatized, low-income HIV-infected clients.
  Combating HIV and AIDS, as with any other illness plaguing this 
country, requires a partnership for success. That partnership must 
include action on behalf of our governing bodies, healthcare providers, 
and individual citizens to keep these issues at the forefront of the 
minds of all Americans.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing April 10th 
as National Youth HIV & Awareness Day as we salute the efforts of young 
people nationwide who are tirelessly and effectively working toward 
achieving the goal of an AIDS-free generation.

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