Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, today we do stand at the crossroads in our battle against the global AIDS pandemic. Now because this is Black History Month, I would like to take a minute and set forth the historical record with regard to this issue and the role of the Congressional Black Caucus in bringing the African and the Caribbean AIDS pandemic to the attention of the United States Congress, the Clinton administration and the Bush administration. After years of hard work on the part primarily of the Congressional Black Caucus and our friends in the activist and the NGO community, we are finally seeing the issue of AIDS in Africa and the Caribbean in the national spotlight. Now, several years ago my friend, a former colleague we all know and respected, Congressman Ron Dellums, and several American and South African activists developed a very comprehensive plan to combat AIDS in Africa. Now, we envisioned creating an AIDS Marshall Plan in Africa that would mirror the original Marshall plan that helped our friends and allies in Europe rebuild from the aftermath of World War II. So I have introduced the AIDS Marshall Plan as legislation. Let me just say that each and every member of the Congressional Black Caucus signed on as co-sponsor.”