[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 13] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page 18593] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]WORLD AIDS DAY ______ HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS of new york in the house of representatives Wednesday, December 1, 2010 Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize December 1, 2010, as ``World AIDS Day''. This day was designated as such in 1988 by the World Health Organization and from then on, we have continued to uphold the tradition. As we embark upon the thirtieth year of the HIV/AIDS virus, we should reflect on so many Americans and others around the world that have died from this devastating disease. My district of Brooklyn, New York is considered the epicenter of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the United States for African Americans, women, adolescents, and children. With this alarming revelation, 87 percent, of which 7 percent are under the age of 13, are persons of color living with the HIV/AIDS virus. Brooklyn has been heavily affected by this deadly disease for over the past three decades and we have the city's highest prevalence rates. It was estimated that 27,000 Brooklyn residents were living with HIV/AIDS in 2008, and 1,027 were newly diagnosed. There are several thousand more who are infected with the virus, but don't even know it! That's why it is critical to get this message out across the nation: get tested, it could save your life. Today, on World AIDS Day, the mayor of my home state of New York, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg announced a new initiative to fight against HIV/AIDS called ``Brooklyn Knows''. This is a community-based test effort that aims to help a half-million Brooklyn residents learn their HIV status over the next four yours. It highlights the city's leadership to date in making HIV testing a routine part of health care. Like the World Health Organization and my great state of New York, I want to encourage everyone to take a stand by putting in place preventive mechanisms to eradicate this deadly disease. I want to be clear that I am not asking you to solve this epidemic alone, but I feel it is our responsibility to take whatever steps and measures are necessary to put into place mandatory requirements for our medical providers to offer voluntary HIV testing to their patients. Once again, I ask that we all take a stand and make a difference to ensure another life is saved from this deadly disease. ____________________