Congressman Charles Rangel introduced H.R.3396 - CURE (Communities United with Religious Leaders for the Elimination of HIV/ AIDS) Act of 2015 to raise awareness about the continuing devastating effects of the HIV/ AIDS epidemic in minority communities. The bill is supported by the National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS, Inc. (NBLCA), which works together with community and faith-based organizations in the fight against the deadly virus.
"HIV/ AIDS infections remain a serious problem that affects patients, families and communities," said Rangel. "As a Congressman representing diverse communities that are disproportionately affected, I support efforts to end HIV/ AIDS disparities to improve their health and overall well-being."
Currently, an estimated 1.2 million people in the United States are living with HIV/ AIDS. Racial minorities accounted for almost 71% of the newly diagnosed cases of HIV infection in 2010. The national HIV rates for minority groups as of 2010 was 69.9 for Blacks, 27.5 for Hispanics, 19.3 for Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders, 9.7 for American Indian/Alaska Natives, and 6.5 for Asian Americans.
The bill, H.R.3396 will authorize the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to make grants to community-based and faith-based organizations to conduct education, outreach, testing, counseling and research activities related to the reduction and elimination of HIV/ AIDS in minority communities.
"As a community, we have a responsibility to be inclusive and take care of those suffering from diseases," said Rangel. "That is why I am a proud sponsor of the bill which would increase funding and inter-organization collaboration to help eliminate the HIV/ AID among minority communities."