Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that a "Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day" should be established.

Mr. Speaker, let me thank the gentleman for his leadership and his assistance and his commitment to addressing this pandemic and also for yielding me the time.

Also, let me just thank the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Deal). I would like to thank the gentleman from Texas (Chairman Barton) and the gentleman from Michigan (Ranking Member Dingell) of the Committee on Energy and Commerce and also their staffs for helping us bring this bill to the floor today.

I want to especially thank our leadership staff and Christos Tsentas of my office, who worked day and night to make sure that the resolution became a bipartisan resolution.

Mr. Speaker, 2 days ago, on February 7, we commemorated the fifth National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, a day when we urged African Americans and all Americans to get educated, to get involved, and get tested. National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day was created in 2001 by a coalition of five national nonprofit organizations to raise awareness about the growing HIV/AIDS epidemic among the African American community.

The numbers are startling, Mr. Speaker. Over 42 percent of all people living with HIV and AIDS are African American, even though, as my colleague from New York pointed out, we only represent about 13 percent of the population. That is about 172,000 people.

Each year, African Americans make up over half of all new HIV/AIDS cases diagnosed in the United States. In 2003, 67 percent of all women diagnosed with AIDS were African American and 69 percent of all pediatric AIDS cases were born to African American mothers.

Behind each statistic, of course, is a real human being with family and friends who care about them. So we are here today for all of them, but we are also here to raise awareness among decision-makers in Congress and in the administration.

Many of my colleagues and I quite frankly were outraged last year during the Vice Presidential debates when Gwen Ifill asked both candidates to comment on the fact that black women between the ages of 25 and 44 are 13 times more likely to die of AIDS than their counterparts and both candidates were really quite frankly unaware of this.

So, Mr. Speaker, today I want to say it loud and clear so there is no misunderstanding. AIDS is a public health emergency for African Americans. The Congressional Black Caucus was out front of this epidemic 6 years ago when we worked with the Clinton administration to create the Minority AIDS Initiative, and I want to recognize and thank our colleague, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Waters), for her passionate and dedicated work as chairman of the CBC then in putting together the Minority AIDS Initiative in 1998.

She convened a national meeting here in Washington, D.C., and sounded the clarion call for all of us. Out of that effort, we declared in my district 6 years ago, as it relates to African Americans, a state of emergency.

Nationally, African American women are increasingly becoming more infected. Let us be for real. There has been a lot of discussion about many facts and a lot of individuals and communities really heap a lot of blame on men who are considered on the ``down low.'' Now, this is defined as men who lead secret double lives having sex with other men on the side. Some people feel that the down low is contributing to these statistics. But the truth is, we just do not know.

We have to be honest with each other. This is not new. But we must break the silence, for if we do not, the disease will continue to spread. We must respect each other's individual personal views, but this is a public health issue that requires a frank and open discussion about sex and sexuality. We insist that leaders in Africa speak up frankly to discuss the pandemic on the continent. We applaud President Museveni. We must demand our leadership on all levels break the silence. It is about life and death, not about personal views of morality.

The HIV/AIDS rate in our prisons is 10 times higher than in the general public. Ten times. And most of those incarcerated are African Americans and Latinos. What happens when over 70 percent of them return to their communities next year? Talk about a public health disaster. This is going to be catastrophic. Pediatric AIDS cases will continue to soar. We cannot ignore the reality of this situation any more.

Mr. Speaker, we need a comprehensive solution. Now, I commend President Bush for mentioning this in his State of the Union speech, but it is not enough for the President to talk about AIDS in the State of the Union. We have to follow through, and he has to follow through with the funding to combat it. The budget which the President submitted included a $10 million increase for the Ryan White CARE Act next year, but this will not really cut it. We need a realistic level of funding that meets the need and provides at least $513 million more, a realistic level of funding.

Let me just say in conclusion that we need a comprehensive approach that embraces abstinence, A; being faithful, B; and if you do not do either, use a condom. That is ABC. We have to stop the misguided ideological attack on prevention methods that work and that have been proven to work. An abstinence-only approach will not work. Again, it is abstain, it is be faithful, and if you do not do either, you use a condom.

This is not an ideological issue. We all have constituents affected by this disease. So let us come together and support a comprehensive response. Again, this is about life and death. We cannot keep our heads in the sand.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Barton and Ranking Member Dingell of the Energy and Commerce Committee and their staffs for helping me bring this bill to the floor today. And I also want to thank the leadership staff for their help.

Mr. Speaker, two days ago, on February 7th, we commemorated the 5th National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day--a day when we urged African Americans and all Americans to ``Get Educated, Get Involved, and Get Tested''. National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day was created in 2001 by a coalition of five national non-profit organizations to raise awareness about the growing HIV/AIDS epidemic among the African- American community.

The numbers are startling, Mr. Speaker. Over 42 percent of all people living with HIV/AIDS are African American, even though we only represent only about 13 percent of the population. That's about 172,000 people. Each year, African Americans make up over half of all new HIV/ AIDS cases diagnoses in the U.S. In 2003, 67 percent of all women diagnosed with AIDS were African American. And 69 percent of all pediatric AIDS cases were born to African American mothers.

Behind each statistic is a real human being, with family and friends who care about them. So we are here today for all of them. But we are also here to raise awareness among decision-makers in Congress and the Administration.

Many of my colleagues and I were outraged last year during the Vice Presidential debates when Gwen Ifill asked both candidates to comment on the fact that black women between the ages of 25 and 44 are 13 times more likely to die of AIDS than their counterparts and both were unaware of this. So, Mr. Speaker, today I want say it loud and clear so there is no misunderstanding.

AIDS is a public health emergency for African Americans.

The Congressional Black Caucus was out in front of this epidemic six years ago, when we worked with the Clinton Administration to create the Minority AIDS Initiative. And I want to recognize and thank my colleague, Rep. Maxine Waters, for her passionate and dedicated work as Chair of the CBC in putting together the Minority AIDS Initiative in 1998. She convened a national meeting here in Washington, DC and sounded the clarion call for all of us. Out of that effort, we declared a State of Emergency in my district six years ago, as it relates to the African American community, because in Alameda County, our statistics are nearly identical to the national averages.

Nationally, African American women are becoming increasingly infected. Most of these women get infected through heterosexual contact, while most African American men get HIV from sex with other men. That is a fact. So let's be for real.

There's been a lot of discussion about these facts, and a lot of blame heaped on men who are on the ``down low'', defined as men who lead secret double lives having sex with other men on the side. Some people feel that the down low is contributing to these statistics, but the truth is we just don't know. But let's be honest with each other. This is not new. But we must break the silence, for if we don't, this disease will continue to spread.

We must respect each other's personal views, but this is a public health issue that requires a frank and open discussion about sex and sexuality. We insist that leaders in Africa speak up frankly to address the pandemic on the continent--we must demand that our leadership on all fronts begin to break this silence. It is about life and death, not personal views of morality. Look at our prison system.

The HIV rate in our prisons is ten times higher than in the general public. Most of those incarcerated are African Americans and Latinos. What happens when over 70 percent of them return to their communities next year? Talk about a public health disaster--this will be catastrophic. Pediatric AIDS cases will continue to soar. We can't afford to ignore the realities of this situation any longer.

Mr. Speaker, we need a comprehensive solution. I commend President Bush for mentioning this in his State of the Union Speech. It's not enough for the President to talk about AIDS in the State of the Union Address, however--he's got to follow through with funding to combat it. The Budget which the President submitted includes a $10 million increase for the Ryan White CARE Act next year. That won't cut it. We need a realistic level of funding that meets the need, and provides at least $513 million more for Ryan White, for a total of $2.6 billion. And we need to rapidly increase funding for the Minority AIDS Initiative, to at least $610 million this year. We cannot accept another year of flat funding from this Administration.

And as far as prevention is concerned, we need a comprehensive approach that embraces the ABCs, Abstain, Be Faithful, use a Condom if you don't do either. We've got to stop this misguided, ideological attack on prevention methods that work, and that have been proven to work.

An Abstinence-only approach will not work by itself. Again Abstain, Be Faithful--if you don't do either, use a Condom. We all have constituents that are affected by this disease. Let's come together to support a comprehensive response. Again, this is about life or death. We cannot keep our heads in the sand.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I might consume. I want to thank my colleague, of course, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee), who has really distinguished herself in this body as a real leader for introducing this bill. This bill has the bipartisan support of 52 cosponsors and deserves the support of all the Members of the House.

Mr. Speaker, National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day was held on February 7 in cities and towns all over this country, including Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami and New Orleans, New York of course, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and many, many, more. This annual observance was created to encourage African Americans across the United States to get educated, get tested, and get involved in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Now, some people may wonder, why is it necessary to have a day to reach out to the African American? And let me indicate to those that raise that question that I wish it was not necessary to have this kind of targeted outreach effort. But, unfortunately, it is not only necessary; it is vital to us that we do this. It is just so important.

It is of vital importance because every day in this country 72 African Americans are infected with HIV. According to the Centers For Disease Control, African Americans make up approximately 13 percent of the population of the United States, but they represent 40 percent of the total AIDS cases reported in this country. In 2003, CDC revealed that more African Americans were reported to have AIDS than any other racial or ethnic group. In my own congressional district, the largely African American neighborhoods of Ft. Greene and East New York continue to experience the highest incidence of HIV/AIDS in New York City.

In the United States, nearly 406,000 people were living with AIDS at the end of 2003, and African Americans accounted for half of these AIDS cases. Among women, rates of HIV/AIDS diagnosis in African American women are 19 times higher than those of white women and five times higher than those of Hispanic women. Sadly, African Americans also suffer the vast majority of deaths caused by AIDS, accounting for more than half of all U.S. AIDS-related deaths in 2003.

While these statistics are tragic, we must never shrug our shoulders and say nothing can be done.

We must remember HIV/AIDS is totally preventable. So in the face of this immense human tragedy, we cannot give up. We must embrace the opportunity to encourage people to get educated, get tested, and get involved in the fight against AIDS. We must never forget that apathy and silence lead to ignorance, and ignorance leads to death. Members of this Congress must stand together to break the silence and reject the ignorance which is leading to the death of ordinary people in countless communities all over this land.

Mr. Speaker, we must not only use the well of the House as a forum; we must, as I said, we must use our budget process to provide the necessary funding for this as well. That is why I hope that this body will move expeditiously on the reauthorization of the Ryan

White CARE Act. Down through the years, this act has provided the primary source for HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention. We need to ensure that these funds will continue to be available to meet the needs of those who are affected by this disease.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill and to remember, more funding will save many more lives and stop the spread of

Mr. Speaker, I yield 6 minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee).

Mr. Speaker, how much time do we have left?

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Rush).

(Mr. RUSH asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis).

(Mr. DAVIS of Illinois asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Mrs. Christensen).

(Mrs. CHRISTENSEN asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Kucinich).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee).

(Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I would just like to say that I really appreciate the work of the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee) and all the other Members that worked on this, including the chairman of the Subcommittee on Health, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Deal), the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Health, the chairman of the full committee and of course the ranking member of the full committee and all of the staff for all of the work they have done.

This is an area that we really need to focus on. We need to work together on this issue to be able to see what we can do to bring it under control. It has been said over and over again that this is a disease that can be dealt with. The only thing we have to do is put some resources there and also work together. I think if we do that, we can bring this horrible disease under control.

I want to thank all of those who worked so hard to make us focus on this because this is something that we cannot ignore. Some things you can ignore and they will go away. If we ignore this, it is going to get bigger and bigger and bigger. The time is now to put the resources behind it and deal with it.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. This is a day intended to raise awareness and visibility of HIV/AIDS prevention efforts among African Americans. I applaud the efforts of Representative Lee from California in bringing this important resolution to the floor.

Mr. Speaker, this day is unfortunately very necessary. It deserves the attention of this Congress and our Nation because the face of HIV/ AIDS is changing. Since the onslaught of HIV in the early 80s, the face of HIV/AIDS has become increasingly more African-American and more female.

In fact, HIV/AIDS is the leading cause of death for African Americans between the ages of 25-44.

Also, while African Americans represent only 12 percent of the population, we account for 49 percent of all reported cases of AIDS reported among adults and adolescents and the AIDS diagnosis rate among African Americans was almost 11 times the rate among whites.

For African-American women the figures are even more shocking as they account for 67 percent of all new HIV cases. Needless to say these figures are appalling and indicate we need to face this pandemic with all due urgency.

I think there are many things that we can do to help alleviate the problem, but there are two pressing items that come to mind:

First, each of us must be willing to have a difficult conversation with people we love about protecting themselves from AIDS. Having these difficult conversations can save lives.

Second, we must work together to fight the virus where it is having its most deadly impact. Federal dollars for HIV/AIDS prevention, diagnosis, and treatment should follow the epidemic and reach those who are most affected. Needless to say, more Federal funding is needed to accomplish this goal.

I applaud the President for mentioning this HIV/AIDS problem during his State of the Union Address.

However, the meager increase in the Bush budget for the Ryan White AIDS program at $2.1 billion is a good start, but, sadly not enough. That is why full funding for the Minority Aids Initiative, spearheaded by Maxine Waters and the Congressional Black Caucus in 1998 is so important.

Mr. Speaker, in 1998, I received some local criticism for speaking out about HIV/AIDS in Baltimore. To this day, I occasionally am told that highlighting the health crisis devastating Baltimore's African- American community reinforces negative stereotypes about African- Americans.

Nationally, however, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention inform us that more than one-half of the adult American men infected during the last 20 years have been people of color.

Remaining silent about a threat of such magnitude would be an unthinkable moral error.

In the Congress, our public conversation about the adequacy of America's response to AIDS will continue as long as Federal policy fails to adequately protect our health.

We already know, however, that public policy and Federal funds alone will not fully safeguard those we love.

In every household, church and school, Americans must find the will to talk candidly with each other about protecting ourselves.

No one else will value our lives more than we do.

As a father, I know that talking with our children about their personal lives can be a difficult and uncomfortable duty--but we have no choice.

Eight out of every ten American women and children infected by the HIV virus since 1981 have been people of color--and one of the most cruel aspects of this plague is its preference for the young.

It has become the second leading killer of young black women--and the current trends offer no comfort.

Of the 40,000 new HIV infections reported nationally during 1999- 2000, fully one-half involved young people under the age of 24.

Three-quarters of those new victims have been young people who look like us.

When we confront these appalling facts, each of us who is a parent or grandparent is faced with a difficult question.

What do we say to our young people that will help them protect themselves from this plague?

Dr. Ligia Peralta, Director of the Adolescent AIDS Clinic at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, suggests that our private conversations with our children empower them to take control of their own health.

``For young women, in particular'' she informs us, ``the greatest risk of contracting HIV/AIDS comes from an intimate relationship with someone she loves. Theoretically, she understands the risk of sexually- transmitted infection. Personally, though, she may not connect that risk with her man.''

``If her young man is not an intravenous drug user,'' Dr. Peralta continues, ``a young woman in love may think that she is safe from HIV/ AIDS. She doesn't even think about the possibility that he may have been infected by another woman, or by another man.''

Therein lies their danger. In our private conversations with our children about protecting themselves from HIV/AIDS, we should counsel abstinence. As a practical matter, however, it is wise to discuss all of their options, including condoms.

With Federal help, local health departments now offer free, anonymous HIV/AIDS counseling and testing. Sexually active young people should take advantage of that service--and insist that their partners do so as well. Talking candidly with our children about intimate matters can be difficult.

It is those private conversations, however, that will save the lives of those we love. Silence about HIV/AIDS feeds the destroyer of lives.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his commitment to this issue, and I thank as well the author, sponsor and leader on this issue in this Congress, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee).

Sometimes the Lees are walking on the same pathway, and I certainly appreciate the fact I have been able to walk with her on this avocation in recognizing the devastation of HIV/AIDS as relates to the African- American community; and I thank the gentlewoman for allowing us to join her as original cosponsors on this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, let me indicate that although we have heard from speakers all over the country, it needs to be said over and over again, this is not an isolated question dealing with HIV/AIDS. It is an epidemic. It is nationwide. It is worldwide.

HIV/AIDS cases reported for African-American women in particular have grown in numbers in the Houston area from 27 percent to 53 percent. National statistics show the same trend. Data from the Centers for Disease Control reported that African-American women diagnosed with AIDS increased 53 percent to 67 percent as a fraction of all women diagnosed with AIDS from 1985 to 2002. CDC data for 2002 indicate African-American women diagnosed with AIDS account for 50 cases per 100,000 population, nearly five times greater than the next ethnic group most affected by AIDS.

I cite those numbers not to ignore the plight of others impacted by HIV/AIDS, the Hispanic and Asian communities, African-American males, and certainly as was indicated on this floor, a lot of the transmission to African-American women comes from heterosexual sex. But we realize this impacts all populations, regardless of one's sexual orientation, and HIV/AIDS is a disease of America. It is important to emphasize this day, to salute those who continue to focus on the question of HIV/AIDS in our community. This resolution continues to tell cities to promote this.

Mr. Speaker, I conclude by saying that we ask for a national summit on this issue. I join my colleagues in ensuring that happens.

Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues today to support H. Con. Res. 30 highlighting National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. African Americans-- particularly women--have been vulnerable to HIV and AIDS infections. The Centers for Disease Control reported that African Americans accounted for about half of all new HIV infections, although they represent just over 12 percent of the population.

HIV/AIDS cases reported for African-American women in the Houston area from 27 percent to 53 percent. National statistics show the same trends. Data from the Center for Disease Control reported that African- American women diagnosed with AIDS increased 53 percent to 67 percent as a fraction of all women diagnosed with AIDS from 1985 to 2002. CDC data from 2002 indicate for women diagnosed with AIDS, African-American women account for 50 cases per 100,000 population--nearly five times greater than for the next ethnic group most affected by AIDS.

CDC data for the year 2002 for men diagnosed with AIDS show that African Americans have the highest instance of reported cases with 111.9 cases per 100,000 population. The Houston Department of Health and Human Services provided me with some local data for HIV and AIDS. While the overall number of AIDS and HIV cases reported have remained more or less constant--or even declined--from 1999 to 2003, there have been increases over that time period for African Americans.

The newest HIV and AIDS therapies have proven effective in controlling the progression of the disease. However we all know about the high cost of these miracle drugs, which denies many African Americans their life saving benefit. A recent report from the U.S. Census Bureau indicates that around 20 percent of the Nation's African Americans are uninsured. That same report indicated that the poverty rate for African Americans was around 24 percent--higher than any other ethnic group identified in the study.

One group that is helping address the availability of HIV and AIDS treatments for the poor is Dr. Joseph Gathe, one of Houston's best- known AIDS doctors, and his colleagues. Dr. Gathe and his colleagues established the Donald R. Watkins Memorial Foundation in Houston in 1996--a tax exempt clinic devoted to providing quality HIV and AID therapies to the underserved and uninsured in the Houston area. On this National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day we want to recognize and honor people like Dr. Gathe and his co-workers who have devoted their professional lives to treating underserved patients with HIV and AIDS. HIV and AIDS are communicable diseases and effective treatment of all infected patients is a national public health priority. I hope that you will all join me in the continued support for facilities like the Donald R. Watkins Memorial Foundation and physicians like Dr. Gathe.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman for yielding me this time.

Mr. Speaker, we have heard statistic after statistic. We have heard number after number. It is very clear that HIV/AIDS is indeed an emergency situation in the African American community. It is a real problem across the country in all communities. The question that comes is: What do we really do about it?

I commend the President for mentioning in his State of the Union address an additional focus on the issue. I agree with my friend from Florida who suggests that we need abstinence and education information, but we really need a comprehensive approach to the problem. We must have enough resources for treatment, we must focus on prevention, and we must focus on changing and altering lifestyles.

Mr. Speaker, America has within it the resources to really deal with this issue; we just need the will. I commend the gentlewoman from California for her leadership and all of those who have pledged to do what they can. I also commend all of those individuals in my community. I have been publicly tested three times to help convince individuals to be tested, to do the things that are necessary. Churches are getting more involved, as they should. We must continue.

Mr. Speaker, according to the 2000 Census, African Americans make up 12.3 percent of the Nation's population but account for 40 percent of the estimated AIDS cases diagnosed since the epidemic began. Through science, research, and medical advancements, there are better treatments, prevention efforts, and a decline in AIDS diagnoses and deaths, except for African Americans. Between 1999 and 2003, AIDS diagnoses among African-Americans increased by 7 percent, compared to a 3 percent decline among White Americans. Deaths among African Americans remained fairly stable but declined by 18 percent among White Americans over this period. In 2003, 59 children younger than 13 years of age in our country had a new AIDS diagnosis, 40 of the 59 were African- American. Of the 90 infants reported as having HIV/AIDS in 2003, 62 of the 90 were African-American.

It is important Congress takes time to focus and support January 7th as National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, especially since the startling statistics continue. In 2002-2003, the HIV/AIDS rates for African-American females were 19 times the rates for White females and 5 times the rate for Hispanic females. Although African-American teens ages 13-19 represent only 15 percent of the teenagers in our Nation, they accounted for 65 percent of new AIDS cases reported among teens in 2002.

In Illinois and Chicago, we also continue to lose our African- American mothers, sisters and young people--the future generation-- incredibly more than any other group in American to AIDS. Approximately 66 percent of Illinois women living with HIV are African-American, while African Americans only make up 15 percent of the Illinois female population. In Chicago, African-American women are 12 times that of White women and 4 times that of Hispanic women to have AIDS. In Illinois, African-Americans accounted for 58 percent of reported AIDS cases among teens ages 13 to 19.

Mr. Speaker, I stand here today rattling off statistic after statistic because HIV/AIDS is plaguing and destroying African-American communities. Yet, I wonder how many of my colleagues or how many Americans, including African-Americans, know how devastating and destructive this disease is on one population in our country. It leads to the questions, why is more not being done? Why has this not been considered a national public health emergency? With more African- American males in prison, more African-American females living and dying with HIV/AIDS, what is to happen to the African-American children and families?

We all must get behind the National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day slogan ``Get Educated, Get Involved, Get Tested''. I am proud to have joined individuals in my congressional district last year on Worlds AIDS Day and got tested. I am also very excited and pleased that the AIDS Foundation of Chicago, AFC, introduced its new Faith in Prevention initiative last year, which aims to include 12 churches and faith-based organizations to reduce the impact of HIV and AIDS on the health of African-American men and women in Chicago. Each received a leadership grant to support activities such as HIV outreach and education, HIV prevention Ministries, support groups and awareness events.

Again, I support this legislation and thank the gentlewoman from California for her dedication to HIV/AIDS and for bring this legislation to the floor. But I remind our country--more needs to be done.