Washington, D.C. – Today in conjunction with June being National Caribbean Heritage Month, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) introduced legislation supporting the goals and ideals of National Caribbean American HIV/Awareness Day which is recognized every year on June 8th.

The resolution seeks to encourage State and local governments and media organizations to publicize the importance of the day in their communities and encourage Caribbean American, Caribbean-born and all people in the United State to, educate themselves on the disease, know their status and undergo testing for HIV. Additionally, the resolution supports the development of a National AIDS strategy with clear goals and objectives to reduce new HIV infections, particularly among communities of color.

"Communities of color continue to be disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS," said Congresswoman Lee. "The statistics for those living and emigrating from the Caribbean are staggering.

"The Joint United National Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) estimated that 230,000 people were living with HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean at the end of 2007. Approximately 14,000 those diagnosed died of AIDS during that same year making it one of the leading causes of death in the Caribbean among adults 15 to 49 years old and making the region the second-most affected by HIV in the world.

"This legislation will bring much needed awareness and advocacy to both the Caribbean and Caribbean American communities about the devastating affects of this deadly disease and what people must do to protect themselves."

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