Political Quotes

“I wish to congratulate the over 50 influential public and private sector leaders from business, from media, from entertainment, from sports, education, as well as the faith-based community as they come together this weekend for the XAIDS Act NOW Partnership Council. In fact, on Monday, June 11, the council will convene in my Congressional district in South Florida to mobilize efforts in their fight against the HIV/AIDS virus. This is an epidemic that is plaguing our communities and they are going to combine their expertise, their resources and experiences to see how we can combat this terrible plague. Studies show that early treatment can prolong health and persons who know that they have HIV are far more likely to avoid risky behavior, to get treatment and to protect their partners. As a result, the council's message is very simple: Get tested, get treated and be safe. This will be promoted by teams that will focus on testing and primary care, the Internet, leadership councils, influential speakers, youth, outreach support and multimedia support groups. The partnerships have increased awareness on HIV and AIDS and they have encouraged people to get tested, to help prevent new infections among at-risk individuals. Their innovative approaches have helped to combat complacency in our community. We cannot afford to be complacent any longer.”