Washington, D.C.– Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva today released the following statement marking World AIDS Day:

“Today is a day to remember that AIDS affects many more people than the estimated one million Americans who live with the disease. It affects families, friends and loved ones all over this country who still hold out hope that we can put an end to this ongoing scourge and bring help and comfort to those who have already contracted it.

It’s also a day to remember the unnecessary disparities in HIV and AIDS incidence and treatment in different populations across this nation. To take just one example, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the rate of new HIV infections among Hispanic/Latino men is more than double that of white men. We need to be aware of these disparities when we make national, state and local health policy decisions. Providing adequate bilingual health services and offering supportive environments are crucial if we want to reach out to those who need help and stop the further spread of AIDS. This is an issue all Americans, whatever their political leanings, can agree on. We need to be intelligent, caring and farsighted in how we fund research, how we care for those who have the disease, and how we communicate with those who are at risk of contracting it.

As we continue to pursue promising treatments and research new medicines, I encourage everyone to take a moment to consider what a world without AIDS would look like and take whatever steps they can to make it a reality. The millions whose lives have already been cut short, here and overseas, by this deadly disease deserve our commitment to making sure future generations do not share their fate.”

For more information, visit the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services World AIDS Day Web site.