National Commission on AIDS: Annual Report to the President and Congress

its work has endeavored to create broad public agreement on the magnitude, scope and
urgency of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and to inspire leadership at all levels of both the public
and private sectors to put in place effective, cooperative and non-discriminatory systems and
resources required for prevention, comprehensive care, and research efforts necessary to
halt the epidemic.
Thus far, the Commission has conducted twelve days of full Commission hearings
covering HIV/AIDS related issues including health care, treatment, financing, research,
regional aspects of the epidemic, correctional facilities, the health care work force, and
executive and legislative branch initiatives including the National Drug Control Strategy and
the U.S. Bipartisan Commission on Comprehensive Health Care Report.
In addition to full Commission hearings, the Commission has established two working
groups to look at specific aspects of the epidemic. The Working Group on Federal, State,
and Local Responsibilities convened a hearing in St. Paul, Minnesota to examine the roles
of the local, state, and federal governments in the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The Working
Group submitted a report on these hearings to the full Commission in March 1990. In its
report, the Working Group found that a lack of clear definition of government roles and
intergovernmental partnerships have seriously hampered the nation's response to the
epidemic. It recommended that an interagency cabinet-level federal task force be
established, a forceful, comprehensive national plan for responding to AIDS be developed
and that direct emergency relief be provided to states and localities.
The Working Group on Social/Human Issues has held meetings in Boston, Dallas,
and Seattle. Its work has focused primarily on the relationship between HIV testing and
early intervention, the range of services needed by those affected by the epidemic, and the
partnerships needed to deliver these services. A report from this group is expected in the
near future.