Political Quotes

“today I am introducing along with my colleagues Senator Levin, Senator Murray, and Senator Metzenbaum, a joint resolution to designate the week of May 29, 1994 through June 4, 1994, as ``Pediatric and Adolescent AIDS Awareness Week.'' This joint resolution is introduced as a companion to identical legislation introduced by Congressman Jose Serrano of the 16th District in New York. Pediatric and Adolescent AIDS Awareness Week provides us an opportunity to expand a national prevention effort aimed at the reduction in the incidence of AIDS in children and adolescents. Adolescent and young adult HIV transmission guarantees the continuation of the spread of AIDS/HIV epidemic, if we do not increase our counseling and educational efforts. As my colleagues may know, AIDS is a leading cause of death for children ages 1 through 4. By October 1993, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported 4,906 cases of pediatric AIDS and 1,412 cases of adolescent AIDS throughout the United States. Pediatric AIDS is most often contracted from the mother by the newborn child in utero. If the incidence of AIDS continues to increase at this rate, AIDS will become the fifth leading cause of death among children of all ages in the United States.”