Vito Fossella: “let me acknowledge at the outset that we all share, I think, the goal of stopping the spread of AIDS and sexually…”

“let me acknowledge at the outset that we all share, I think, the goal of stopping the spread of AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases, as well as diabetes and cancer, and clearly acknowledge that the intention of those who oppose this legislation is not controverted by our position and our goal to stop the spread of AIDS. But I think it is appropriate as well to apply a little useful distinction here. Let me just put a human face on this. Needle giveaway programs should not be supported with taxpayer dollars. The people back home in Staten Island and Brooklyn, who get up every morning for work, who go to work and see a big chunk of their paycheck taken out and given to the Federal Government, should not expect to see the Federal Government, in turn, buying needles and giving them away to drug addicts on our streets and our communities. Indeed, as we speak here today, there is a group on Staten Island that is seeking a waiver to start a needle giveaway program. At the outset, what they wanted to do was to open up a storefront and provide needle exchanges. Well, the community went a little nuts, as well they should, because these people invest their life savings in their American dream, having their children walking around the streets, and why should they be confronted with looking at a needle giveaway program with drug addicts coming into their neighborhoods?”