Clinton & Waters Hail Congressional Approval of Their Resolution to Honor 10th Anniversary of Minority AIDS Initiative

Press Release

Clinton & Waters Hail Congressional Approval of Their Resolution to Honor 10th Anniversary of Minority AIDS Initiative

Renew Call to Take on HIV and AIDS in Minority Communities

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) and Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) hailed House and Senate passage of their resolution to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Minority AIDS Initiative and renewed their call to address the disproportionate impact of HIV and AIDS in minority communities.

"By passing this resolution commemorating the Minority AIDS Initiative, I hope that we can draw new attention to the tragic toll this epidemic is taking in minority communities in New York and across the country. We must ensure that prevention efforts are reaching minority communities and other at-risk populations, and we must reduce unacceptable disparities in treatment and care," said Senator Clinton. "I am proud to work with my friend Maxine Waters to renew our national commitment to combat stigma, raise awareness, and stop the spread of HIV and AIDS in our communities of color."

"I am pleased that both the Senate and the House have commemorated the 10th anniversary of the Minority AIDS Initiative. Congress must continue to support and adequately fund this life-saving initiative. I remain committed to developing a national strategy to combat the AIDS epidemic, and I know Senator Clinton will also play a vital leadership role," said Congresswoman Waters.

As a co-chair of the AIDS Task Force of the Congressional Black Caucus, Congresswoman Waters leads the fight in the House of Representatives to expand the Minority AIDS Initiative. The initiative was established under her leadership, during her tenure as the Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus.

Senator Clinton has long championed prevention, testing and early treatment to address the AIDS epidemic in the United States. She has worked to increase domestic AIDS funding in the Senate and introduced the Early Treatment for HIV Act to allow low-income individuals with HIV access to Medicaid before they become ill.

The Minority AIDS Initiative received an initial appropriation of $156 million in fiscal year 1999 and currently is funded at approximately $400 million per year.

Racial and ethnic minorities are disproportionately impacted by HIV/AIDS. African-Americans account for about half of new AIDS cases, although approximately 13 percent of the population as a whole is black. Hispanic-Americans account for 19 percent of new AIDS cases, although only 15 percent of the population as a whole is Hispanic. Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders account for 1 percent of new AIDS cases, and Native Americans and Alaskan Natives account for up to 1 percent of new AIDS cases. Approximately 70 percent of new AIDS cases are racial and ethnic minorities.

The establishment of the Minority AIDS Initiative was announced on October 28, 1998 at an event sponsored by the Congressional Black Caucus. The event featured the participation of President Bill Clinton, Secretary of Health and Human Services Donna Shalala, members of the Congressional Black Caucus, and representatives of HIV/AIDS service and advocacy organizations. Congress codified the Minority AIDS Initiative within the most recent reauthorization of the Ryan White CARE Act. Today, the Minority AIDS Initiative continues to fills gaps in prevention, treatment, surveillance, infrastructure, outreach and education across communities of color.

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