On National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, Norton Says D.C. Has Made Progress Since Removal of Deadly Needle Exchange Rider

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) released the following statement as the nation recognizes National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day today.

"Ever since I was able to remove the deadly rider that banned D.C. from using local funds for needle exchange programs, the number of newly diagnosed HIV cases attributable to injection drug use has fallen by 95 percent in our city," Norton said. "Yet, because of those 10 years when Congress kept D.C. from using its local funds on needle exchange, our city still has an epidemic-level infection rate. Most disconcerting, despite making up 47 percent of D.C.'s population, African Americans represent 75 percent of total HIV cases and 73 percent of new cases. The special D.C.-only $5 million federal payment I secure each year to combat HIV/AIDS in the District is a congressional acknowledgment of its role in the D.C. epidemic."

To help make up for the years of the needle exchange ban, Norton has been able to annually secure a $5 million federal payment to combat HIV/AIDS in D.C., including in the House and Senate fiscal year 2018 D.C. appropriations bills.