Rockland Reporter

Congressman Mike Lawler has expressed concern over potential changes to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Division of HIV Prevention. In a letter addressed to Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Lawler highlighted the importance of maintaining current HIV prevention programs.

HIV has been a significant health issue in the United States since 1981, claiming over 700,000 lives. Approximately 1.2 million people are currently living with the disease, with the LGBTQ+ community being disproportionately affected. The CDC's efforts in prevention, research, and testing have played a crucial role in controlling its spread by collaborating with nonprofits and local governments to reach those most at risk.

Lawler emphasized that "any reorganization of these programs, either to the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) or elsewhere in the HHS umbrella," could undermine existing prevention efforts by placing them into unfamiliar structures. This could potentially compromise preventive measures such as the HIV prevention pill and disrupt educational initiatives aimed at thousands of at-risk individuals.

The congressman stated his hope that reports about restructuring are inaccurate and reaffirmed his commitment to ending the HIV epidemic by 2030 through maintaining or expanding current programming.

Representing New York's 17th Congressional District just north of New York City, Congressman Lawler is recognized as one of Congress's most bipartisan members.