NEW BILL PASSES TO STOP THE SPREAD OF HIV/AIDS IN PRISON

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release Contact: Michael Levin
September 25, 2008 (202) 225-2201

SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE PASSES
CONGRESSWOMAN WATERS' BILL
TO STOP THE SPREAD OF HIV/AIDS IN PRISON

Washington, D.C. - Today, the Judiciary Committee of the United States Senate passed H.R. 1943, The Stop AIDS in Prison Act, which was introduced by Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) last year. This bill passed the House of Representatives by voice vote and was then referred to the Senate. On September 15, 2008, Congresswoman Waters and a bipartisan group of House members urged the Senate Judiciary Committee to consider the bill before Congress adjourns.

"I am proud that the Senate Judiciary Committee passed the Stop AIDS in Prison Act, and I urge the full Senate to pass this bill and send it to the President's desk before we adjourn," said Congresswoman Waters.

The Stop AIDS in Prison Act requires the federal Bureau of Prisons to test all federal prison inmates for HIV upon entering prison and again prior to release, unless the inmate opts out of taking the test. The bill also requires HIV/AIDS prevention education for all inmates and comprehensive treatment for those inmates who test positive.

"This bill is a bold step to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS in our nation's prisons and to prevent inmates from infecting other persons in the community following their release from prison," said Congresswoman Waters.

The Stop AIDS in Prison Act has been endorsed by AIDS Action, The AIDS Institute, the National Minority AIDS Council, the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, the HIV Medicine Association, AIDS Project Los Angeles, and Bienestar (a Latino community service and advocacy organization), as well as the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and the Los Angeles Times.

"AIDS is spreading in our nation's jails and prisons. In 2005, the Department of Justice reported that the rate of confirmed AIDS cases in prisons was three times higher than in the general population. We need to take the threat of HIV/AIDS seriously and confront it in every institution of our society. That includes our nation's prison system," said the Congresswoman.

Congresswoman Waters is the Co-Chair of the AIDS Task Force of the Congressional Black Caucus. She has sponsored five initiatives in the 110th Congress to promote HIV/AIDS awareness, prevention, testing and treatment.

1. She introduced H.R. 822, the Routine HIV/AIDS Screening Coverage Act. This bill would require health insurance plans to cover routine HIV tests under the same terms and conditions as other routine health screenings and therefore encourage and enable more Americans to be tested for HIV/AIDS. This bill has over 40 cosponsors.

2. She is continuing her efforts to expand the Minority AIDS Initiative, which she established back in 1998 to expand HIV testing, treatment and prevention among racial and ethnic minorities. HIV/AIDS is more prevalent in minority communities. On March 19, 2008, she sent a letter to House appropriators requesting $610 million for the Minority AIDS Initiative in fiscal year 2009, and 79 Members of Congress signed her letter.

3. She introduced H.R. 1943, the Stop AIDS in Prison Act, which passed the House of Representatives on September 25, 2007, and passed the Senate Judiciary Committee on September 25, 2008. It now awaits consideration in the full Senate.

4. She introduced H.Con.Res. 426, a resolution to commemorate the 10th Anniversary of the establishment of the Minority AIDS Initiative. More than 50 Members of Congress cosponsored this resolution.

5. She introduced H.Res. 1359, a resolution to honor the first annual National Clinicians HIV/AIDS Testing and Awareness Day. A total of 29 Members of Congress cosponsored this resolution.