Rep. Maxine Waters Celebrates National Clinicians HIV/AIDS Testing and Awareness Day
"Doctors, nurses, and other clinicians play a critical role in encouraging patients to get tested for HIV. I urge all clinicians to become actively involved in HIV/AIDS awareness, testing, treatment, and referral services in their communities, and I urge all clinicians to take an HIV test and set a good example for their patients to follow," said Congresswoman Waters, who recently took an HIV test to underscore that testing is important, easy and quick.
Congresswoman Waters has introduced a resolution, H. Res. 592, in honor of the second annual National Clinicians HIV/AIDS Testing and Awareness Day. A total of 21 Members of Congress representing both political parties cosponsored this resolution.
The resolution urges physicians, nurses, dentists and other clinicians nationwide to become actively involved in HIV/AIDS awareness, testing, treatment, and referral services, and it also urges individuals to get tested for HIV and educate themselves about the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS.
Congresswoman Waters has sponsored several other initiatives in the 111th Congress to promote HIV/AIDS awareness, testing and treatment.
1. Encouraging HIV screening: Congresswoman Waters introduced H.R. 2137, the Routine HIV Screening Coverage Act. This bill would require health insurance plans to cover routine HIV tests under the same terms and conditions as other routine health screenings and therefore encourage and enable more Americans to be tested for HIV/AIDS. This bill has 40 cosponsors. Congresswoman Waters also sent a letter signed by 21 Members to House leaders requesting that the comprehensive health care reform legislation include provisions guaranteeing that health insurance plans cover routine HIV tests.
2. Expanding the Minority AIDS Initiative: Congresswoman Waters continues her efforts to expand the Minority AIDS Initiative, which she established back in 1998 to expand HIV testing, treatment and prevention among racial and ethnic minorities. HIV/AIDS is more prevalent in minority communities. On April 3, 2009, she sent a letter to House appropriators requesting $610 million for the Minority AIDS Initiative in fiscal year 2010, and 53 Members of Congress signed her letter.
3. Preventing the spread of AIDS: She introduced H.R. 1429, the Stop AIDS in Prison Act, which was passed by the House of Representatives on March 17, 2009, and now awaits consideration in the Senate. 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.
###