Date: 2014-12-01
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. today is World AIDS Day. and I am very pleased to come from a city where so many celebrated and commemorated the progress and challenges involved. I want to thank the Thomas Street clinic. I have visited there and seen the treatment that is given. As well. I thank the AIDS Foundation. which has always been on the front lines providing information and resources. I also want to thank the Montrose Clinic. World AIDS Day. started in 1988. is an enormously important day. I remember being here as a civilian in the United States Senate when the Ryan White Act was introduced by Senator Kennedy and the distinguished Senator from Utah. So we are here today to say we have not done all that we need to do. PEPFAR has cared for millions around the world through the work that we have done here in the United States Congress. Deaths have declined. but yet HIV/AIDS and transmission from mothers to infants still exists. It is important to continue the work. We should not ignore the success or challenges. I am very glad to work with organizations in my district. and I hope that funding in the omnibus or the appropriations process is not diminished in fighting to eliminate HIV/AIDS in our lifetime. I thank all of those who have sacrificed and lost their lives. Mr. Speaker. World AIDS Day affords us an opportunity to reflect on our progress in fight against the global AIDS pandemic and to rededicate ourselves to ending the disease once and for all. We have come a long way since the first World AIDS Day in 1988 by dramatically expanding investments in HIV/AIDS prevention. care. treatment. and research. Strong advocacy has paved the way for the Ryan White Act. the Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS Initiative. growing investments in NIH research. and an end to the ban on federal funds for syringe exchange. Beyond our borders. our efforts have extended care to millions in the developing world. through increased resources for PEPFAR and the Global Fund. Our investments have saved livespreventing millions of new HIV cases. expanding access to improved treatments. and enabling medical advances that help HIV/AIDS patients live longer and healthier. Here and across the globe. AIDS deaths are on the decline. and studies are pointing the way to new approaches to limit the spread of the disease. with treatment as prevention. While our efforts have grown. we still only reach half of all people eligible for HIV treatment. and more must be done. Working together. we must continue to strengthennot weakenour national and international efforts to combat AIDS and other infectious diseases. We must work to achieve the Obama Administrations goal of an AIDSfree generation. We must honor the memory of those we have lost and act on our hope. optimism. and determination to end the HIV/AIDS pandemic. We must continue to work with programs and clinics. like the Harris County Hospital District (HCHD). who are treating and caring for patients with HIV/AIDS. In 1989. HCHD opened Thomas Street Health Center. the first freestanding facility dedicated to outpatient HIV/AIDS care in the nation. The center has become the cornerstone of all HIV/AIDS care available to Harris County residents. The Thomas Street Health Center has dedicated their services to about 25 percent of Harris Countys HIV/AIDS. Annually. the health center. along with HCHD. serves 4.463 unique patients for about 37.000 patients visits. We will continue to fight a tough fight against HIV and AIDS. We will continue to strengthen and support centers like Thomas Street Health Center who work diligently with HIV/AIDS patients. Our focus on HIV/AIDS prevention and awareness will be to ensure all of our friends. relatives and children live healthy and full lives.