Political Quotes

“this weekend in Barcelona, Spain, 15,000 people came together for the 14th International AIDS Conference for Knowledge and Commitment for Action. I had the privilege to participate in this very important conference and can say with certainty that while Congress and the administration are waking up to the desperate call of millions of individuals living with HIV and AIDS, and those yet to be born to this scourge, we are still not doing enough. Let me bring the Members up to date on this global pandemic. In 2001, there were 5 million new AIDS infections across the globe. Today there are 40 million people living with AIDS worldwide, and there are 14 million AIDS orphans. In the United States, 950,000 have been diagnosed with AIDS. African Americans make up only 13 percent of the total United States population, but 54 percent of new infections and 82 percent of women who are newly infected with HIV are African American and Hispanic. In my district in Oakland, California, we declared a state of emergency in order to focus attention on this tragic, tragic crisis. The latest statistics indicate that the number of new infections is slowing in Alameda County; yet we must do more. AIDS is a disease that affects the entire human family. It has impacted every corner of the Earth. Therefore, we must discuss this problem in a global context. We must address prevention, treatment, vaccines, access, and funding in a comprehensive fashion.”