CONGRESSWOMAN WATERS LEADS 56 MEMBERS OF CONGRESS
Today, on Capitol Hill, Rep. Maxine Waters (CA-35) sent a letter to the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services and Education requesting an appropriation of $610 million for the Minority AIDS Initiative in fiscal year 2012. A total of 56 Members of Congress signed the letter. The text of the letter follows:
We write to request that you provide an appropriation of $610 million for the Minority AIDS Initiative in the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations bill for fiscal year 2012.
Racial and ethnic minorities are severely and disproportionately impacted by the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the United States. African Americans account for 45% of new HIV infections, although only 12% of the population is black. Hispanics account for 17% of new HIV infections, although only 15% of the population is Hispanic. Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders account for 2% of new HIV infections, and American Indians/Alaska Natives account for 1%. Combined, racial and ethnic minorities represent a majority of new HIV infections, new AIDS diagnosis, people living with HIV/AIDS, and deaths from AIDS.
These statistics demonstrate the tremendous importance of the Minority AIDS Initiative. This critical initiative provides funds to community?based organizations and health care providers to help them address the HIV/AIDS epidemic within the minority populations they serve. The Minority AIDS Initiative is designed to enable organizations and providers in minority communities to improve their capacity to deliver culturally and linguistically appropriate care and services. Thus, it fills gaps in prevention, testing, treatment, surveillance, infrastructure, outreach and education across communities of color.
We urge you to provide $610 million for the Minority AIDS Initiative in fiscal year 2012. We thank you for your attention to our concerns, and we look forward to working with you to expand programs for the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS in minority communities throughout the United States.
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· Congresswoman Waters spearheaded the establishment of the Minority AIDS Initiative in 1998 when she served as Chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus. The initiative initially received $156 million in funding, and has received approximately $400 million per year since fiscal year 2003.
· During the 111th Congress, Congresswoman Waters introduced the Stop AIDS in Prison Act (H.R. 1429), a bipartisan bill to require the Federal Bureau of Prisons to develop a comprehensive policy to provide HIV testing, treatment and prevention for inmates in Federal prisons. This bill was passed by the House of Representatives on March 17, 2009, but was not taken up by the Senate prior to adjournment last year.
· Also during the 111th Congress, Congresswoman Waters introduced the Routine HIV Screening Coverage Act (H.R. 2137) to require health insurance companies to cover HIV tests as routine procedures.