U.S. Congressman José E. Serrano ~ Representing the people of the 16th District of New York

Serrano Commemorates World AIDS Day

December 1, 2010 –Washington, DC – Congressman José E. Serrano today issued the following statement in commemoration of World AIDS Day.

“Today we spend time remembering those that have succumbed to AIDS and vow to redouble our efforts to fight against new infections and to find a cure. Over time, we have made much progress towards understanding and controlling it this terrible disease, but we lost many good people along the way. In their memory we continue to fight to end this epidemic.

“Over the past several years, I have had the distinct honor of fighting a successful battle to ensure funding for syringe exchange programs. We started with the District of Columbia—where a city wracked by an AIDS epidemic had been prevented from using its own funds to support syringe exchange. We changed that shameful policy and then began the battle to allow federal funding for syringe exchange programs across the nation. The federal government had been prevented since the 1990s from spending money on syringe exchange. We won the battle to free up that funding last year, and federal support is starting to flow. These two struggles—which I was proud to lead—have led to reductions in HIV infection rates. As we await a cure from scientists, these sorts of actions are among the best tools we have to battle HIV/AIDS.

“Another battle that we fight on an ongoing basis is to reduce the stigma associated with HIV/AIDS. There are many people in New York who are living with a positive diagnosis, and it is our job to ensure that their lives are as normal as possible. We know that no one would choose¬ to become infected, and therefore we cannot judge people for their infection. We must support and help them as they battle to treat this disease.

“There is much more work to be done to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic both here and abroad, but with simple, effective steps, we can reduce its impact and ensure that we do not needlessly lose more people while we wait for the cure. Every life is precious and we have lost too many already.”

WASHINGTON OFFICE
2227 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-3216
(202) 225-4361
Fax: (202) 225-6001

BRONX OFFICE
1231 Lafayette Ave, 4th Floor
Bronx, NY, 10474
(718) 620-0084
Fax: (718) 620-0658

Print Page