Presidential Address: American Foundation for AIDS Research

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Page 8.
I've asked the Department of Justice to plan for testing all
Federal prisoners, as well as looking into ways to protect
uninfected inmates and their families.
In addition, I've asked for a review of other Federal
responsibilities, such as veterans hospitals, to see if testing
might be appropriate in these areas. This is in addition to the
testing already underway in our military and foreign service.
Now let me turn to what the States can do. Some are already
at work. While recognizing the individual's choice, I encourage
States to offer routine testing for those who seek marriage
licenses and for those who visit sexually transmitted disease or
drug abuse clinics. And I encourage States to require routine
testing in State and local prisons.
Not only will testing give us more information on which to
make decisions, but in the case of marriage licenses, it might
prevent at least some babies from being born with AIDS. And
anyone who knows how viciously AIDS attacks the body cannot
object to this humane consideration. I would think that everyone
getting married would want to be tested.
You know, it's been said that, when the night is darkest, we
see the stars. And there have been some shining moments
throughout this horrible AIDS epidemic. I'm talking about all
those volunteers across the country who've ministered to the sick
and the helpless.
For example, last year about 450 volunteers from the Shanti

Project provided 130,000 hours of emotional and practical support
for 87 percent of San Francisco's AIDS patients. That kind of