TRIBUTE TO SENATOR DANIEL PATRICK MOYNIHAN -- (Extensions of Remarks - September 20, 2000)

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SPEECH OF HON. JUANITA MILLENDER-McDONALD

OF CALIFORNIA IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Tuesday, September 19, 2000

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to a man who has served as one of the most determined and effective advocates for America's hard working families in the United States Senate. Senator DANIEL PATRICK MOYNIHAN was first elected to the Senate in 1976, and has served the people of New York as well as the entire country with commitment, leadership and integrity. As the Ranking Member on the Senate Finance Committee, he has pioneered for new initiatives to feed our nation's poor, to provide critical welfare and job training services to families in need, and to ensure that everyone has access to quality health care. Senator MOYNIHAN has been particularly committed to an issue I know well: AIDS.

As many of my colleagues know, since the moment I first stepped foot in Washington, I have fought for increased funding for critical HIV and AIDS education, treatment and research programs. I have also worked to expand our current programs to areas that are still in need of our help. Africa, India, the Caribbean, and Central and Eastern Europe in particular need our help and Senator MOYNIHAN has heard this call to action.

Senator MOYNIHAN introduced S. 2032 to amend the Foreign Assistance Act to address mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Africa, Asia and Latin America. At the same time, I introduced H.R. 4665 to initiate a $10 million pilot project in Africa and India to reduce and prevent mother-to-child HIV/AIDS transmission. I am extremely pleased that H.R. 3519, the Global AIDS and Tuberculosis Relief Act of 2000, was signed into law by the President on August 19 and included much of the language and intent of my International Mother-to-Child HIV/AIDS Prevention Bill. With this legislation, we can commit $25 million to this cause.

Worldwide, 1,800 infants become infected with HIV each day. The total number of births to HIV-infected pregnant women each year in developing countries is 3.2 million. HIV/AIDS has doubled infant mortality in poor countries most heavily affected by the epidemic. We have hit a critical point where we must take action in the world's epicenter of HIV infection. We must act now if we ever hope to end this epidemic once and for all.

I thank Senator MOYNIHAN for his leadership on this serious public health issue and on so many issues affecting our women and children.
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