[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 11208]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                            HIV TESTING DAY

                                  _____
                                 

                           HON. LOIS FRANKEL

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 26, 2014

  Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring attention 
to National HIV Testing Day, which takes place on June 27. This day 
serves as an important opportunity to urge everyone to get tested. I 
would like to thank all of the advocates, care coordinators, and 
healthcare providers, both in my community and around the country, for 
their tireless work in serving the HIV-positive community and raising 
awareness of HIV issues more generally.
  There are over one million people of all ages, ethnicities, and 
sexual orientations in the United States living with the HIV virus, and 
South Florida has one of the highest HIV infection rates in the 
country. Sadly, nearly one in six HIV-positive individuals do not know 
that they are infected, which means that they could be unknowingly 
spreading the virus. We simply must close this gap so that we may 
improve health outcomes for those living with HIV and protect against 
future infections.
  HIV does not discriminate--it impacts people old and young, gay and 
straight, and of all nationalities and ethnic backgrounds. To highlight 
this critical issue, I will be hosting a call to action in my district. 
I hope that everyone will take this opportunity to get tested for HIV 
and to ask their friends and family to do the same.
  Again I would like to thank the advocates, care coordinators and 
healthcare providers in South Florida and around the country for their 
tireless work in preventing, detecting, and treating HIV. I wish them 
the best as they pursue this daunting but important endeavor.

                          ____________________