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Congresswoman Waters Encourages All Americans to Get Tested for HIV

July 21, 2009

Congresswoman Maxine Waters (CA-35) today encouraged all Americans to get tested for HIV and educate themselves about the prevention and treatment of HIV and AIDS.  She joined other Members of Congress and public health advocates at an event held in advance of National HIV Testing Day, which is June 27th, and leading by example she was tested today.

Congresswoman Waters is recognized as a leader in Congress for her efforts to promote HIV/AIDS awareness, testing, treatment and prevention.

"Our message is: ‘Take the test, take control'," Congresswoman Waters said. "Getting tested and learning your HIV status is extremely important.  Those who test positive can begin to get lifesaving medicine and prevent spreading the virus to loved ones.  Those who test negative can continue to take steps to protect themselves from infection.  In any case, knowledge is power and knowing your HIV status allows you to make informed decisions."

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) more than one million Americans are living with HIV/AIDS — and more than one out of five people living with HIV do not know they are infected. 

"We need to increase the availability of HIV tests and encourage individuals to get tested so we can reduce the spread of HIV and AIDS.  More people will seek testing if they realize that it's easy and painless – it can be done by a simple swab inside your cheek, without a needle or blood – and you can get your results back in half an hour," Congresswoman Waters said.

To encourage and enable more Americans to be tested for HIV, Congresswoman Waters introduced the Routine HIV Screening Coverage Act (H.R. 2137).  This bill would require health insurance plans to cover routine HIV tests under the same terms and conditions as other routine health screenings.

HIV/AIDS affects men and women of all races and ethnicities.  Blacks, Latinos and other minorities however are disproportionately impacted by the epidemic.  Combined, minorities represent 67% of new HIV infections, 71% of new AIDS cases and 67% of people living with HIV/AIDS.

In 1998, when she was the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, Congresswoman Waters spearheaded the establishment of the Minority AIDS Initiative, and she has continued her efforts to expand it.  She sent a letter signed by a total of 53 Members of Congress to House leaders who make key funding decisions requesting that the Minority AIDS Initiative receive $610 million in fiscal year 2010.  This would be a considerable increase from the funding level of about $400 million per year during most of the Bush Administration.

Congresswoman Waters said, "The community-based organizations and health care providers who receive grants through the Minority AIDS Initiative have been effective in delivering HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention programs to minority communities in culturally and linguistically appropriate ways.  That is why we are seeing some encouraging signs.  For example, the Kaiser Family Foundation reports that more Black Americans (68%) and Latinos (57%) than Whites (42%) have taken an HIV test.  However, we still have a lot of work to do as half of all Blacks living with HIV are unaware that they are infected."

Congresswoman Waters reiterated her encouragement that all Americans get tested.  "A lot of clinics, health care centers and community organizations provide testing, and in some cases the test is even free," she noted. 

To find the nearest testing site, call 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636) or visit https://hivtest.org

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