Congresswoman Waters Recognizes National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

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PRESS RELEASE

February 7, 2011

Contact: Bartlett

For Immediate Release

Phone: (202) 225-2201

Congresswoman Waters Recognizes National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

She Notes Progress; Urges Robust Funding for AIDS Research, Prevention and

Treatment Programs and Full Implementation of the Affordable Care Act

Washington - 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 education, screening, research, treatment, and funding,

released the following statement today in recognition of National Black HIV/AIDS

Awareness Day:

" Today is National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. This day is a time to remember

the devastating impact that HIV and AIDS have had on African Americans. 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

African 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.

" The impact of HIV/AIDS on African American men, women, and children has truly

been devastating. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, African Americans

account for 45 percent of new HIV infections, 46 percent of people living with

HIV/AIDS, 48 percent of new AIDS cases, and 57 percent of AIDS deaths, despite

the fact that we are only 12 percent of the population of the United States.

HIV/AIDS is the fourth leading cause of death for black men and the third

leading cause of death for black women between the ages of 25 and 44. About 65

percent of new AIDS cases among American women are black, and 68 percent of new

AIDS cases among American teenagers are black. Blacks account for more new HIV

infections, more AIDS diagnoses, more people living with HIV/AIDS, and more

deaths related to HIV/AIDS than any other racial or ethnic groups in America.

" Nevertheless, there is cause for hope. In a survey by the Kaiser Family

Foundation, 40 percent of African Americans reported having been tested for HIV

within the previous year, and more than 20 percent of African Americans surveyed

named HIV/AIDS as the number one health problem in the United States. This

illustrates growing HIV/AIDS awareness and concern within our community.

" Forward-looking federal policies and programs have improved our nation's

ability to prevent, diagnose and treat HIV/AIDS among all Americans affected by

the disease. The Minority AIDS Initiative, which I developed in 1998 when I was

chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, has strengthened the ability of the

African American, Latino, and other minority communities to respond to the

epidemic. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continue to

promote awareness to reduce the spread of HIV and 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 White

HIV/AIDS Program and the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP), have allowed

people living with HIV/AIDS to live longer and more productive lives. Last

year, the Obama Administration adopted a National AIDS Strategy to improve

coordination among agencies and programs and respond to the epidemic in a

comprehensive manner.

" 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 African Americans and other communities of color.

Meanwhile, Congress is considering drastic reductions in funding for critical

public health programs like NIH research, CDC prevention programs, White

and ADAP.

" Two weeks ago, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 2, the Patient's Rights

Repeal Act, to repeal the Affordable Care Act and allow health insurance

companies to continue to deny coverage to Americans living with HIV/AIDS.

" I call upon the Administration to include robust funding for these critical

programs in its budget for the coming fiscal year, and I call upon my colleagues

in Congress to maintain funding for HIV/AIDS research, prevention, testing and

treatment 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. "

###

* 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.

Congresswoman Waters and 56 of her colleagues requested $610 million in funding

for this program in fiscal year 2011.

* 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.

* During the 111th Congress, Congresswoman Waters has also introduced the

Routine HIV Screening Coverage Act (H.R. 2137) to require health insurance

companies to cover routine HIV tests.

---

Kathleen Sengstock

Senior Legislative Assistant

Rep. Maxine Waters

(202) 225-2201

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