Speech #1030037470

Mr. Speaker. while I support the efforts of my colleagues responsible for bringing the conference report on the National Institutes of Health reauthorization to the floor. I must speak against the provision codifying the ban on immigration and travel of foreign nationals with HIV and AIDS. This provision is severely damaging to this countrys efforts. and indeed the worlds efforts. to prevent discrimination against the estimated 14 million men. women. and children infected with HIV in the world today. One million of those HIVinfections are in the United States. Closing our borders will not prevent the continued spread of this disease in this country. Only a strategic policy of education. prevention. and care will accomplish this. Nor will this immigration ban further research efforts and information gathering which take place at international conferencesactivities which are very important in the fight against