Political Quotes

“I will continue: [Washington, DC] has the distinction of having an AIDS death rate seven times the national average. As if this weren't tragic enough, the city also has to contend with needle-exchange opponents attacking a program that has-- through the Whitman Walker Clinic--reduced the spread of HIV by causing a 29 percent drop in the number of drug injections. So we have a terrible scourge of HIV and AIDS right here in the Nation's Capital--seven times the national average. We have a program that tries to convince HIV users, through a needle exchange, to stop it, to go through drug rehab, to end their addiction. And it is successful. As a result of the program, there was a 29-percent drop in the number of drug injections. The Senator from Georgia--and he is going to withdraw the amendment, in fairness to him--the Senator from Georgia says the best thing we can do is eliminate that program. That is an invitation for more HIV and AIDS and more addiction. Mr. President, 75 percent of the cases of babies born with HIV are due to the use of dirty needles by either the mother or the father, and 70 percent of the cases of women with HIV are due to their own or their partner's use of contaminated needles. That is what the debate is all about. It pains me to even talk about this topic. I am not comfortable with it. But I think we have to be honest if we want to deal with public health issues.…”