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On August 14, Sen. Kirsten
Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) introduced the Communities
United with Religious Leaders for the Elimination of HIV/AIDS (CURE) Act of
2013 to both chambers of the US Congress. Intended to reduce HIV incidence
among US minority populations, the bill would fund the National Institutes of
Health and US Department of Health and Human Services grants for HIV prevention
activities, including research, education, outreach, and testing. Grant
recipients would include CDC, the Office of Minority Health (OMH), the
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and community- and
faith-based organizations.
Sen. Rangel stated the bill would
allow community and religious organizations to partner in finding
“on-the-ground” solutions to high HIV incidence in communities of color. The
bill would provide funding for health agencies and faith- and community-based organizations
to expand HIV prevention education and counseling, especially among runaway and
homeless youth. The bill also would supply funding for OMH to collaborate with
public and private sector communities to increase awareness of health risks
among racial and ethnic minorities. CDC would receive funding for behavioral
research and testing to find effective HIV prevention solutions.
African Americans accounted for
approximately half of all new US HIV infections; approximately 20 percent of
new HIV infections occurred among Hispanics. HIV incidence among Native
Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders was twice that of whites, and HIV incidence was
30 percent higher among American Indians/Alaska natives than whites.
CURE Act proponents included a wide
range of national organizations, faith-based organizations, and minority
advocates, including the National Medical Association, National Conclave on
HIV/AIDS Policy for Black Clergy, the Black AIDS Institute, the National
Alliance of Hispanic Health, the Asian Pacific Islander American Wellness
Center, and the National Caucus of Black State Legislators.
The Friends of AIDS Foundation is
dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and
empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV
virus.
To learn more about The Friends of
AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.
TOGETHER WE REMAIN STRONG!
