Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, we have heard statistic after statistic. We have heard number after number. It is very clear that HIV/AIDS is indeed an emergency situation in the African American community. It is a real problem across the country in all communities. The question that comes is: What do we really do about it? I commend the President for mentioning in his State of the Union address an additional focus on the issue. I agree with my friend from Florida who suggests that we need abstinence and education information, but we really need a comprehensive approach to the problem. We must have enough resources for treatment, we must focus on prevention, and we must focus on changing and altering lifestyles. Mr. Speaker, America has within it the resources to really deal with this issue; we just need the will. I commend the gentlewoman from California for her leadership and all of those who have pledged to do what they can. I also commend all of those individuals in my community. I have been publicly tested three times to help convince individuals to be tested, to do the things that are necessary. Churches are getting more involved, as they should. We must continue. Mr. Speaker, according to the 2000 Census, African Americans make up 12.3 percent of the Nation's population but account for 40 percent of the estimated AIDS cases diagnosed since the epidemic began.”