Nancy Pelosi: “But I do so, Mr. Speaker, with the confidence that in standing here I stand with the great scientists of our country in…”

“But I do so, Mr. Speaker, with the confidence that in standing here I stand with the great scientists of our country in stating that needle exchange programs help reduce the spread of HIV and AIDS and do not contribute to increasing substance abuse, indeed in many instances reduce substance abuse. There are many issues that will be raised during this debate on this bill, but there is one clear message that is irrefutable now and will be equally irrefutable at the close of business. That message is, the leading scientists in this country have examined the evidence and determined that needle exchange programs, again, help stop the spread of HIV infection and do not encourage drug use. We give the National Institutes of Health, we appropriate for FY 1998, the year we are in, $13.6 billion. What does this Congress want to do? Ignore the recommendations of the NIH.”