Congresswoman Waters Recognizes National Latino AIDS Awareness Day
Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), a Congressional leader in the fight to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS in the United States and around the world through increased awareness, screening, research, treatment, and funding, released the following statement today in recognition of National Latino AIDS Awareness Day:
"Tomorrow is National Latino AIDS Awareness Day. This day is a time to remember the devastating impact that HIV and AIDS have had on Latinos in the United States. But it is also a time to recognize the progress that has been made improving awareness about HIV/AIDS and expanding access to HIV/AIDS testing and treatment among Latino Americans and indeed all Americans, and to dedicate ourselves to continuing to fight this epidemic and work for the day when no one will have to live with – or die from – this terrible disease.
"HIV/AIDS has had a disproportionate impact on Latinos in the United States. There are approximately 1.1 million people living with HIV/AIDS in the United States today, and more than 205,000 are Latinos. Latinos account for 20% of new HIV infections and 21% of new AIDS diagnoses, despite the fact that only 16% of the population is Latino. Young people in the Latino community have been particularly impacted. Latino teenagers aged 13-19 account for 21% of new AIDS diagnoses among teenagers, and Latino young adults aged 20-24 account for 20% of new AIDS diagnoses among people in the United States of this age group. HIV/AIDS was the sixth leading cause of death among both men and women aged 25-44 in the Latino community in 2007.
"Considerable progress has been made in responding to the HIV/AIDS epidemic among all Americans affected by the disease. Forward-looking federal policies and programs have improved our nation's ability to prevent, diagnose and treat HIV/AIDS. The Minority AIDS Initiative, which I developed in 1998 when I was chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, has strengthened the ability of the Latino and other minority communities to respond to the epidemic. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) promote awareness and prevention and encourage HIV testing to identify those who are infected. Advances in research supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), together with HIV/AIDS treatment programs such as the Ryan White program and the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP), have allowed people living with HIV/AIDS to live longer and more productive lives.
"The passage of the Affordable Care Act has begun the process of reforming our nation's health system so that all Americans will have access to the health care they need. This law is especially important for people living with HIV/AIDS, many of whom have been denied health insurance coverage because their infection is a pre-existing condition.
"Unfortunately, the progress we have made against this devastating disease is in grave danger of being reversed. I am deeply concerned about the growing numbers of infected Americans who are on waiting lists for ADAP because Congress has not provided sufficient funding for this life-saving program. Funding for the Minority AIDS Initiative has been virtually stagnant since 2003, despite the ongoing spread of HIV among Latino Americans and other communities of color.
"Congress is considering drastic reductions in funding for critical public health and HIV/AIDS programs like Medicare, Medicaid, NIH research, CDC prevention programs, Ryan White and ADAP. Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has passed legislation to repeal the Affordable Care Act and allow health insurance companies to continue to deny coverage to Americans living with HIV/AIDS. Fortunately, the Senate has shown no interest in this ill-advised legislation.
"I call upon my colleagues in Congress to protect Medicare and Medicaid; maintain funding for critical HIV/AIDS programs; and support full implementation of the Affordable Care Act so that people living with HIV/AIDS can continue to be productive members of our society."
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Congresswoman Waters is sponsoring several other initiatives in the 112th 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. The Initiative has received approximately $400 million per year since fiscal year 2003. On May 20, 2011, Congresswoman Waters wrote a letter to congressional appropriators requesting $610 million for the Minority AIDS Initiative for fiscal year 2012 to ensure that the Initiative has the resources needed to combat the AIDS epidemic in these communities. A total of 56 Members of Congress signed the Congresswoman's letter.
2. Encouraging involvement by clinicians: Congresswoman Waters introduced a resolution, H.Res. 362, in honor of the fourth annual National Clinicians HIV/AIDS Testing and Awareness Day. The resolution urges doctors, 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. This resolution was cosponsored by 24 of her colleagues in Congress.
3. Preventing the spread of AIDS: Congresswoman Waters plans to reintroduce the Stop AIDS in Prison Act (H.R. 1429 in the 111th Congress), which was passed by the House of Representatives on March 17, 2009, but was not taken up by the Senate prior to adjournment last year. 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.
4. Protecting HIV screening: Congresswoman Waters plans to reintroduce the Routine HIV Screening Coverage Act (H.R. 2137 in the 111th Congress). This bill requires health insurance plans to cover routine HIV tests under the same terms and conditions as other routine health screenings and therefore enables more Americans to be tested for HIV. This bill had 46 cosponsors representing both political parties in the 111th Congress.