HIV/AIDS Legislation Watch: July 18, 2011

On June 28, Illinois Democrat Senator Dick Durbin introduced S. 1283, a bill to amend the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 to permit leave to care for a same-sex spouse or domestic partner, as well as a parent-in-law, adult child, sibling, grandchild, or grandparent who has a serious health condition. It has 10 Democratic co-sponsors and was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

On July 7, H.R. 1200 gained another co-sponsor. Ohio Democrat Dennis Kucinich is the tenth to sign on to the American Health Security Act.

On July 8, H.R. 676, the Expanded and Improved Medicare for All Act, gained Alcee Hastings, Democrat from Florida and H.R. 1116, the Respect for Marriage Act (the opposite of DOMA), gained two New York Democratic co-sponsors: William Owens and the newly-elected Kathy Hochul.

And kudos to Wisconsin voters who were not fooled by the fake Democrats on the primary ballot and now seem poised to elect Democrats to replace the six Republicans in the recall election next month. May the Cheeseheads inspire us all!