 |
  
|
  |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Have They Nothing Better to Do?October 30, 2001 "Judging from this week's planned assault on the District of Columbia's fiscal year 2002 budget by a group of willful Republican senators, you might think the nation was not under a bioterrorism attack, the US armed forces weren't fighting a war overseas, the economy wasn't on the brink of a recession and the Senate's legislative calendar was empty. Of course, the situation is starkly otherwise: Urgent business is pressing the Senate from all sides. But America's needs are apparently of secondary importance to some GOP members. The Senate is setting aside time this week for a Republican-led attempt to stop the District from spending its own money on needle exchange and domestic partnership programs. "There is nothing earth-shattering in either program. The District's domestic partnership program would be similar to those offered around the country by more than 4,200 private companies, state and local governments, and colleges and universities. The city's needle exchange program would be comparable to programs adopted by more than 81 cities and 31 states. But to the GOP obstructionists, it matters not. . . . "There is nothing the least bit amusing about their pettiness. Left to their own devices, they would destroy a program that is a life-or-death issue in the District. It's hard to find an American city with a higher transmission rate of HIV -- more than one-third of DC cases are caused by intravenous drug use. Federally funded studies show that needle exchange programs don't promote drug use; but they do help prevent the spread of AIDS and offer addicts a chance to get tested for HIV, and they also serve as a bridge to drug treatment. As with the domestic partnership program, the House has also agreed that the District can fund a lifesaving AIDS prevention program with its own money if it wishes. At such a parlous moment in the nation's history, the Senate ought to be embarrassed to be jerked around by such unpardonable smallness." Washington Post 10.30.01  This article was provided by U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is a part of the publication CDC HIV/Hepatitis/STD/TB Prevention News Update. |
 |
Email
Print-Friendly
Glossary
The Body: About The Body | Contact The Body | Content Policy | Content Providers | Advertise With Us | Site Map
Remedy Health Media: About Remedy Health Media | Contact Remedy Health Media | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy
The Body is a service of Remedy Health Media, LLC, 250 West 57th Street, New York, NY 10107. The Body and its logos are trademarks of Remedy Health Media, LLC, and its subsidiaries, which owns the copyright of The Body's homepage, topic pages, page designs and HTML code. General Disclaimer: The Body is designed for educational purposes only and is not engaged in rendering medical advice or professional services. The information provided through The Body should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or a disease. It is not a substitute for professional care. If you have or suspect you may have a health problem, consult your health care provider.
