On the recordJuly 25, 2018
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call attention to one very remarkable young woman. Earlier this year, I had the honor of meeting Masedi while visiting Botswana as part of a delegation trip. Sadly, Botswana is still struggling with HIV/AIDS. Every year, there are 14,000 new infections, and 1 in 5 adults in the country has HIV/ AIDS. Masedi is one of these adults. Born with HIV/AIDS 23 years ago, she lost both of her parents and many other family members to this disease. But when my husband, Dexter, and I visited with her in Botswana, she was full of optimism and determination. Masedi's story is remarkable, and what she has had to overcome is truly inspiring. She has made it her mission to educate the people of Botswana on HIV/AIDS to dispel any rumors or stigmas related to this disease and to one day see a Botswana free of this terrible ordeal. We were so inspired with this visit, and she is truly a shining role model for the entire country. That is why our PEPFAR program is so vitally important, Mr. Speaker. In just over 15 years, PEPFAR has saved and improved millions of lives while preventing millions more in HIV infections. Thanks to American leadership, PEPFAR, and remarkable individuals like Masedi, we can achieve the goal of sustainable control and eradication of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Congratulating Bob Rosasco's Efforts with MINTS International Seminary
