DNC Statement on National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean, Vice Chair Lottie Shackelford, Black Caucus Chair Virgie Rollins, and LGBT Caucus Chair Rick Stafford today issued the following statement recognizing National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day:

"National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is an important opportunity to renew our commitment to a national strategy for combating the devastating impact HIV/AIDS continues to have on the African American community here in the United States. The HIV/AIDS epidemic is a humanitarian issue that affects all of us, but while African Americans represent 13 percent of the American population they account for nearly half of all new HIV infections.

"So today we renew our call for the development of a comprehensive, science-based strategy for combating the HIV/AIDS epidemic that includes expanding access to treatment, fully funding research and education programs, expanding HIV prevention efforts, and reducing HIV-related racial disparities. If we do these things, we can save lives and ensure the quality of life for all Americans."

The DNC also marked World AIDS Day by passing the following resolution during its 2007 Fall Meeting in Vienna, Virginia:

Resolution on World AIDS Day
Adopted by the Democratic National Committee
2007 Fall Meeting
November 30,2007

WHEREAS, the HIV/AIDS epidemic remains a serious public health problem in the United States, with someone in America being infected with HIV every 13 minutes, an HIV infection rate that has not fallen in over a decade;

WHEREAS, there are now more people in the U.S. living with HIV/AIDS and needing HIV-related services than ever before, with approximately one half of people living with HIV our country receiving appropriate care;

WHEREAS, African Americans, who represent nearly half of all new HIV infections but just 13% of the U.S. population, as well as young Americans, Hispanics and women are disproportionately effected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic;

WHEREAS, HIV/AIDS remains the number one threat to the health of gay men with more than two-thirds of new HIV diagnoses occurring among gay men, particularly younger men; and

WHEREAS, national health reform must include improved efforts to tackle major public health challenges in our country, including HIV/AIDS;

WHEREAS, the Bush Administration has refused to increase federal funding for many domestic HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment programs in recent years and promoted policies and spending priorities on HIV prevention for young people that are not supported by scientific evidence of what is effective;

WHEREAS, Congressional Democratic leaders have consistently fought for significant increases in federal funding for domestic HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment programs and promoted HIV prevention policies and programs based on what research indicates is most effective in protecting people from HIV infection; and

WHEREAS, the Bush Administration has not adopted a National AIDS Strategy that brings a strategic approach to bringing HIV incidence down, increasing access to care, and reducing HIV-related racial disparities, despite the fact that U.S. aid agencies require other countries to prepare such strategies when seeking foreign assistance;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Democratic National Committee supports Democratic Congressional leaders who are working to increase funding for the domestic and international responses to HIV/AIDS and to promote evidence-based HIV prevention policies in the US and abroad, and endorses the creation of a National AIDS Strategy for the United States.