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HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE PASSES CONGRESSWOMAN WATERS’ BILL TO STOP THE SPREAD OF AIDS IN PRISON

July 21, 2009

Today, the Judiciary Committee of the House of Representatives unanimously passed Congresswoman Maxine Waters' bill, H.R. 1943, The Stop AIDS in Prison Act, by a voice vote.  No amendments were offered, and there were no statements in opposition.

"I am proud that my colleagues on the Judiciary Committee supported the Stop AIDS in Prison Act.  I look forward to the passage of this bill by the full House of Representatives," said Congresswoman Waters.

The Stop AIDS in Prison Act  requires the federal Bureau of Prisons to test all federal prison inmates for HIV upon entering prison and again prior to release, 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 inmates who test positive. 

"AIDS is spreading in our nation's jails and prisons.  In 2005, the Department of Justice reported that the rate of confirmed AIDS cases in prisons was three times higher than in the general population.  We must take action to stop the spread of AIDS in the prison population," said the Congresswoman.

The Stop AIDS in Prison Act was introduced by Congresswoman Waters on April 19 with the support of the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Judiciary Committee and the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security, and it now has 43 cosponsors. 

The bill has been endorsed or supported by several prominent AIDS advocacy organizations, including AIDS Action, the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, The AIDS Institute, Bienestar, the HIV Medicine Association, and the National Minority AIDS Council, as well as the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and the Los Angeles Times.

"The Stop AIDS in Prison Act will help stop the spread of HIV/AIDS among prison inmates, encourage them to take personal responsibility for their health, and reduce the risk that they will transmit HIV/AIDS to other persons in the community following their release from prison," said Congresswoman Waters.
 

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