(MIAMI) – U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) today urged passage of bi-partisan legislation designed to ease the HIV/AIDS crisis here in the United States and abroad.

In a public meeting Sunday in Miami that included Ambassador Mark Dybul, U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator and Christopher Bates, Acting Director of the Office of HIV/AIDS Policy, Ros-Lehtinen urged participants to “write and call” members of Congress to quickly adopt legislation expanding HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment programs.

“We have a moral obligation to act against a disease that imperils our own community and millions of lives around the world,” said Ros-Lehtinen, Ranking Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

Next month, the House is expected to vote on passage of the Leadership Act Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Act, a bill authored by Ros-Lehtinen and U.S. Rep. Howard Berman (D-CA), who is chairman of the committee. 

Last week, Ros-Lehtinen also joined a bipartisan coalition of members urging full funding of the Ryan White Act, which funds domestic HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment programs, including many that serve residents of south Florida.

“Miami-Dade County ranks first in the State of Florida in the number of AIDS cases. We must move rapidly to improve access to prevention and treatment programs for all of our people,” said Ros-Lehtinen.

Among those attending Sunday’s meeting were students from area colleges and universities and representatives from Test for Life, Miami Beach Community Health Center, Caear Coalition, RESULTS, the ONE Campaign, Borinquen Health Center and the UN Association.

“Each of us has a responsibility to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS, including by our conduct and by supporting organizations and programs that work to prevent and treat the disease,” said Ros-Lehtinen.

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