Mitch Landrieu: “To date, approximately 14 million children have lost their parents to the AIDS virus. In many cases, this devastating…”

“To date, approximately 14 million children have lost their parents to the AIDS virus. In many cases, this devastating disease has robbed them of their parents, their aunts, uncles, cousins, brothers and sisters. At a time when they are most in need of the care of loving adults, millions of children are left without anyone to call their own. Some of them are sick themselves, infected often at birth. If we are serious about $1.5 billion for programs aimed at assisting children orphaned by AIDS, then we must do all that we can to ensure that these programs reflect their many needs. I would suggest that the language in the underlying bill is remiss in that it does not address perhaps their most urgent need, the need for a permanent, loving home. Every child needs a home. A child whose family has been devastated by disease is no exception.”