The Los Angeles Post

Congresswoman Waters Commemorates World AIDS Day 2024

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Rep. Waters: “On World AIDS Day 2024, we must rededicate ourselves to stopping the spread of HIV/AIDS, caring for those who are infected, and searching for a cure. We must never give up until we put an end to the HIV/AIDS pandemic once and for all.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. (December 1, 2024)– Today, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (CA-43), Ranking Member of the House Financial Services Committee and a congressional leader in the fight against HIV/AIDS, issued the following statement in recognition of World AIDS Day, which is celebrated every year on December 1:

“World AIDS Day 2024 is a time to reflect on the progress we have made in our fight against HIV/AIDS, honor those who have died, and unite in worldwide solidarity to give hope to the 1.2 million Americans and the 40 million women, men, and children worldwide who are living with HIV/AIDS.

“Throughout my career, I have been a strong advocate for HIV/AIDS awareness, prevention and treatment, with a particular emphasis on the minority communities that have born the brunt of the disease. Before coming to the U.S. Congress, I worked with local organizations and community leaders to raise funds for local minority HIV/AIDS initiatives in Los Angeles, and I introduced legislation to address the HIV/AIDS epidemic among African Americans in the California State Assembly.

“As a Member of the U.S. Congress, I spearheaded the establishment of the Minority AIDS Initiative (MAI), which has significantly expanded HIV/AIDS prevention, screening, and treatment efforts among racial and ethnic minorities and reduced AIDS disparities. I am proud to report that funding for this critical initiative has increased from the initial appropriation of $156 million in Fiscal Year 1999 to more than $400 million per year today.

“While we have made progress, we must not forget the challenges we have faced. Last year, the Republican majority in the House of Representatives proposed drastic cuts in funding for HIV/AIDS programs. They proposed slashing $767 million from domestic HIV/AIDS programs in Fiscal Year 2024, including the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, the Ending the HIV Epidemic Initiative, and the Minority AIDS Initiative. These cuts would have needlessly endangered our nation’s progress towards the eradication of HIV. That is why I circulated a letter to the House Appropriations Committee supporting robust funding for domestic HIV/AIDS programs. My letter was signed by 60 Members of Congress. Fortunately, we were successful in stopping these cuts and ensuring that these important HIV/AIDS programs received as much funding in Fiscal Year 2024 as they did the previous year.

“Although we don’t know what challenges we will face in the coming year with a new administration, we must continue to fight. We must rededicate ourselves to stopping the spread of this devastating disease, caring for those who are infected, and searching for a cure. We must never give up until we put an end to the HIV/AIDS pandemic once and for all.”