Remarks by the President to the American Foundation for AIDS Research Awards Dinner

Photocopied at the Roiald Reagan Libra
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things. But only medical science can ever truly defeat AIDS.
We've made remarkable progress, as you've heard, already.
To think we didn't even know we had a disease until June of 1981 when
five cases appeared in California. The AIDS virus itself was
discovered in 1984. _.he blood test became available in 1985. A
treatment drug, AZT, has been brought to market in record time and
others are coming. Work on a vaccine is now underway in many
laboratories, as you've been told.
In addition to all the private and corporate research
underway here at home and around the world, this fiscal year, the
federal government plans to spend $317 million on AIDS research and
$766 million overall. Next year, we intend to spend 30 percent more
on research -- $413 million out of $1 billion overall. Spending on
AIDS has been one of the fastest growing parts of the budget. And,
ladies and gentlemen, it deserves to be. (Applause.)
We're also tearing down the regulatory barriers so as to
move AIDS from the pharmaceutical laboratory to the marketplace as
quickly as possible. (Applause.) It makes no sense and, in fact,
it's cruel to keep the hope of new drugs from dying patients.
(Applause.) And I don't blame those who are out marching and
protesting to get AIDS drugs released before the I's were -- or the
T's were crossed and the I's were dotted. I sympathize with them and
we'll supply help and hope as quickly as we can.
Science is clearly capable of breathtaking advances, but
it's not capable of miracles. Because of AIDS' long incubation
period, it'll take years to know if a vaccine works. These tests
require time, and this is a problem money cannot overcome. We will
not have a vaccine on the market until the mid to late 1990s at best.
Since we don't have a cure for the disease and we don't
have a vaccine against it, the question is, how do we deal with it in
the meantime? How do we protect the citizens of this nation? And
where do we start? For one thing, it's absolutely essential that the
American people understand the nature and the extent of the AIDS
problem. And it's important that federal and state governments do
the same.
I recently announced my intention to create a national
commission on AIDS because of the consequences of this disease on our
society. We need some comprehensive answers. What can we do to
defend Americans not infected with the virus? How can we best care
for those who are ill and dying? How do we deal with a disease that
may swamp our health care system? The commission will help
crystallize America's best ideas on how to deal with the AIDS crisis.
We know some things already -- the cold statistics. But I'm not
going to read you gruesome facts on how many thousands have died or
most certainly will die. I'm not going to break down the numbers and

categories of those we've lost because I don't want Americans to
think AIDS simply affects only certain groups. AIDS affects all of
us. (Applause.)
What our citizens must know is this: America faces a
disease that is fatal and spreading and this calls for urgency, not
panic. It calls for compassion, not blame. And it calls for
understanding, not ignorance. (Applause.) It's also important that
America not reject those who have the disease, but care for them with
dignity and kindness. (Applause.) Final judgment is up to God; our
part is to ease the suffering and to find a cure. This is a battle
against disease, not against our fellow Americans.
We mustn't allow those with the AIDS virus to suffer
discrimination. I agree with Secretatry of Education Bennett -- we
must firmly oppose discrimination against those who have AIDS.
(Applause.) We must prevent the persecution, through ignorance or
malice, of our fellow citizens.
As dangerous and deadly as AIDS is, many of the fears
surrounding it are unfounded. These fears are based on ignorance. I
was told of a newspaper photo of a baby in a hospital crib with a
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