Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010

DEPARTMENTS OF LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND EDUCATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2010 -- (House of Representatives - July 24, 2009)

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Mr. SOUDER. I yield myself 2 minutes. Contrary to what was just said on the House floor, in fact, Dr. David Murray has pointed out in research that it's very mixed. In fact, in most cases, the HIV virus does not come through needles. The overwhelming majority comes through sexual activity, not through the needles.

The District of Columbia, which seeks money from the Federal Government, unlike any other city, is then subject to restrictions. The District of Columbia had the strictest gun laws in the United States, yet led the country in the murder rate. The rest of the country can't be blamed for whatever problems they may have that are behavioral related in the District of Columbia.

The fundamental question is why Congress has repeatedly, over and over, banned needle exchange programs, when, given the opportunity, is: One, they may undermine community drug-prevention messages and programs. Two, providing needles acts as a way for drug users to sustain and support their intravenous drug use and does not address the primary illness of the drug addiction itself.

And, three, needle exchange programs direct critical resources away from treatment and intervention programs which have not proven to significantly affect HIV infection rates and drug use. Arguably, there is some, but it has not been substantial.

I reserve the balance of my time.

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