Congresswoman Waters Recognizes National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

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PRESS RELEASE March 10, 2011 Contact: BartlettFor Immediate Release Phone: (202) 225-2201 Congresswoman Waters Recognizes National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day She Notes Achievements; Warns Drastic Funding Cuts Could Endanger Progress; Urges Full Implementation of the Affordable Care Act VIDEO: Waters, Lee, Christensen Film Message to Commemorate Day, Raise Awareness 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 Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day: “Today is National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. This is a day to remember the impact of HIV and AIDS on women and girls throughout 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 for women and girls and indeed for all Americans. We all must 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. “We cannot effectively confront the HIV/AIDS epidemic without addressing its impact on women. There are approximately 1.1 million people living with HIV/AIDS in the United States today, and almost 280,000 are women. Every year, approximately 15,000 women are newly infected with HIV, almost 10,000 women are diagnosed with AIDS, and almost 5,000 women die of AIDS. Teenage girls and young women are especially impacted. Almost one third of new HIV infections among women are found among those between the ages of 13 and 29. “The impact on women of color is severe. Black women account for 65% of new AIDS cases among women, although only 12% of American women are Black. Latinas account for 17% of new AIDS cases among women, although only 13% of American women are Latinas. More than four out of five women facing a new AIDS diagnosis are women of color.“Fortunately, awareness of HIV/AIDS is growing among women. In a survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation, 26% of non-elderly women said they were concerned about becoming infected with HIV, including 51% of Black women and 44% of Latina women. Among women with children, 57% said they were concerned about their children becoming infected. “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 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, also known as health care reform, 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 women, men and young 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 HIV/AIDS is in grave danger of being reversed. The Republicans in the House of Representatives voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act and allow health insurance companies to continue to deny coverage to Americans living with HIV/AIDS. They are now trying to prevent the law’s implementation by defunding it. “The Republicans have proposed drastic cuts in funding for critical health programs like NIH research, CDC prevention programs, White and ADAP. CDC’s budget was cut by 15 percent, endangering efforts to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS. NIH’s budget was cut by $1.6 billion, which would end cutting-edge medical research by scientists who are trying to find a cure for this devastating disease. “The Republicans even eliminated $25 million in funding that was already provided to help states treat people living with HIV/AIDS under the ADAP program. Eliminating this funding will take vital antiretroviral medicines away from people who depend upon them to be healthy, productive, free from opportunistic infections, and out of hospital emergency rooms. With more than 6,000 people already on waiting lists for ADAP, this is no time for drastic cuts to this life-saving program. “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 women, men and young people who are 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. To read more about Congresswoman Waters’ work on combating HIV/AIDS, click here. Kathleen SengstockSenior Legislative AssistantRep. Maxine Waters(202) 225-2201www.waters.house.govSign up for Congresswoman Waters' e-newsletter(To be removed from future emails, hit “Reply” and type “UNSUBSCRIBE” in the subject line.)