Pelosi Statement on World AIDS Day

Washington, D.C. -- House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the following statement on World AIDS Day:

“Today, the 15th annual World AIDS Day, we are reminded again of the urgency of the fight against AIDS. Despite revolutionary, life-extending drugs, HIV/AIDS continues to be a devastating, worldwide pandemic.

“The pace of infection is staggering. According to recent statistics from the World Health Organization, this year has seen more infection and death from HIV/AIDS than ever before. Five million people became infected with HIV worldwide and 3 million died this year alone - that's more than 8,000 people every day.

“New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), reminds us that we still have considerable work to do at home. The CDC reports that the number of people diagnosed with HIV in 29 states increased by 5.1 percent overall between 1999 and 2002, including a 26-percent increase among Latinos and a 17-percent increase among gay and bisexual men. African Americans continued to be disproportionately affected, representing 54 percent of new diagnoses.

“The Bush Administration’s response has been inadequate. It has failed to increase funding for the groundbreaking Ryan White CARE Act, which provides primary care, grants to community-based organizations, and funding for mothers, children, and adolescents living with HIV/AIDS. By also insufficiently funding international AIDS relief, and basing its prevention strategies and research on ideology rather than scientific evidence, the Administration is aggravating an already tragic situation.

“Infectious disease should not be a partisan issue. We can and we must address the HIV/AIDS epidemic aggressively both at home and abroad.”

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