Congresswoman Maxine Waters Observes National Clinicians HIV/AIDS Testing and Awareness Day; Plans to Speak at the AIDS 2012 Conference

Congresswoman Maxine Waters (CA-35) today celebrated National Clinicians HIV/AIDS Testing and Awareness Day and encouraged the nation's health care providers to promote HIV testing among their patients. This year, National Clinicians HIV/AIDS Testing and Awareness Day falls on July 21^st, just prior to the International AIDS 2012 Conference, which is scheduled to open on Sunday, July 22^nd in Washington, DC.

"The AIDS 2012 Conference provides an excellent opportunity to highlight the important role that doctors, nurses, dentists and other clinicians play in HIV/AIDS awareness, testing, and treatment efforts and to encourage clinicians to promote HIV testing among their patients," said Congresswoman Waters.

Congresswoman Waters introduced a resolution, H.Res. 737, in honor of the fifth annual National Clinicians HIV/AIDS Testing and Awareness Day, and 16 Members of Congress cosponsored her resolution. The resolution urges physicians, nurses, dentists and other clinicians nationwide to become actively involved in HIV/AIDS awareness, testing, treatment, and referral services. It also urges individuals to get tested for HIV and educate themselves about the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS.

"There are over one million people living with HIV/AIDS in the United States today, and one out of every five of them does not know it. By encouraging their patients to be tested for HIV, doctors can enable infected individuals to access appropriate medical care and begin taking action to avoid spreading the virus to others," said Congresswoman Waters.

Congresswoman Waters will be speaking at the AIDS 2012 Conference, as a special guest during a session entitled, "Achieving the Goals of the U.S. National HIV/AIDS Strategy: A Community Perspective," on Thursday, July 26^th, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

Congresswoman Waters is sponsoring several initiatives in the 112^th Congress to promote HIV/AIDS awareness, testing and treatment.

1. Expanding the Minority AIDS Initiative: Congresswoman Waters continues her efforts to expand the Minority AIDS Initiative, which she established as Chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus in 1998 to expand HIV awareness, testing, and treatment among racial and ethnic minorities, who are disproportionately impacted by HIV/AIDS. The Initiative received $416 million in fiscal year 2012, the same amount as in fiscal year 2011 and more than any previous year. On March 15, 2012, Congresswoman Waters wrote a letter to congressional appropriators requesting $610 million for the Minority AIDS Initiative for fiscal year 2013 to ensure that the Initiative has the resources needed to combat the AIDS epidemic in these communities. A total of 59 Members of Congress signed the Congresswoman's letter.

2. Preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS in Federal prisons: Congresswoman Waters reintroduced the Stop AIDS in Prison Act (H.R. 3547), which was passed by the House of Representatives on March 17, 2009, but was not taken up by the Senate prior to the adjournment of the 111^th Congress. This bill requires the Federal Bureau of Prisons to test all prison inmates for HIV, unless the inmate opts out of taking the test. The bill also requires HIV/AIDS prevention education for all inmates and comprehensive treatment for those who test positive. The bill is cosponsored by 36 of her colleagues.

3. Requiring health insurance plans to cover HIV screening: Congresswoman Waters reintroduced the Routine HIV Screening Coverage Act (H.R. 4470). This bill requires health insurance plans to cover routine HIV tests as preventive health screenings without imposing co-payments or deductibles and therefore enables more Americans to be tested for HIV. About 20% of persons living with HIV/AIDS in the United States do not know they are infected. Routine HIV screening would allow them to learn of their status and begin treatment. This bill has 40 cosponsors.

4. Promoting HIV screening: On November 17, 2011, Congresswoman Waters sent a letter to Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius, urging her to include routine annual screening for HIV in the Essential Health Benefits package under the Affordable Care Act. A total of 54 Members of Congress signed the Congresswoman's letter.

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