As Rep. Constance A. ‘Connie’ Howard was sworn in for her sixth term in the Illinois House, she promised to push forward with legislation to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS.
Howard referred to a report from the Illinois Department of Public Health that shows that the annual reported HIV infections in Cook County in 2004 increased 30 percent over 2003. Howard is particularly concerned about the ever-increasing number of HIV-infected Blacks; the report stated that 13,898 African-Americans are infected with HIV, including 7,474 cases that have progressed to full-blown AIDS.
Howard says one goal is to stop the spread of HIV in Illinois prisons, where condoms are banned as contraband and free HIV testing is unavailable. She also plans to push the state to encourage more HIV testing in the Black community as well as to expand Medicaid. Lastly, Howard looks to expand substance abuse treatment to reduce the spread of HIV and reduce crime.