Joe Biden: “by now I hope that all of my colleagues are aware of the extent of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The spread of the disease is…”

“by now I hope that all of my colleagues are aware of the extent of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The spread of the disease is of grave humanitarian and security concern to the United States. Last year alone, 3 million people died as a result of the disease. I have yet to see a study or data which suggests that the number will not increase in 2002. In January of 2000 the National Intelligence Council released a National Intelligence Estimate entitled ``The Global Infectious Disease Threat and its Implications for the United States.'' The report stated that ``the severe social and economic impact of infectious diseases, particularly HIV/AIDS, and the infiltration of these diseases into the ruling political and military elites and middle classes of developing countries are likely to intensify the struggle for political power to control scarce state resources. This will hamper the development of a civil society and other underpinnings of democracy and will increase pressure on democratic transitions in regions such as the FSU [former Soviet Union] and Sub-Saharan Africa where the infectious disease burden will add to economic misery and political polarization.''”