The South leads the country in new diagnoses of HIV/AIDS. Death rates in the South are among the highest in the US — 9 of the 10 states with the highest age-adjusted HIV case death rates are in the South. African Americans are disproportionally represented among new HIV diagnoses in the South. 50% of men and 71% of women diagnosed with HIV in the South were African American.

This petition challenges the dangerous new industry of female genital cosmetic surgery (FGCS), and calls for appropriate oversight from professional and government groups.

Almost three decades of experience defining the limits of antiretroviral therapy and identifying key mechanisms of disease progression compels the development of new clinical approaches to address HIV infection. Even a modestly effective therapeutic vaccine would result in meaningful increases in life expectancy and delays in disease progression in people living with HIV on HAART and would allow us to drastically reduce the disparity and non- ability to provide HIV treatment to the more than 50% of individuals around the world living with HIV who still have no access to antiretroviral therapy. Recent data on a number of therapies in advanced stages of clinical development have shown them to be promising candidates for the treatment of HIV and warrant further investigation and support, as well as remind the community that the development of an effective therapeutic vaccine could lead to a functional cure. Therefore, we call for a reform of the international research agenda to prioritize therapeutic vaccine research and ensure that it is properly funded and proceeds rapidly and coherently.

The PEL (permissible elevated lead level) in children has dropped from 10 to five and we need to continue to push for zero! Thank you to the CDC! Please support funding from our President, the federal government, and global leaders. That will allow for us to better advocate for the changes needed to get the lead out. I am the Administrator of Julia, Lead the Way (lead poisoning awareness) on Facebook. My family and the members of our group hope to see changes in funding from government agencies. The need for the resources is immediate. It will help not only our children, but our environment and our nation. Peace and gratitude ~ Please see and share Julias Youtube video on lead awareness: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=244648875727023&set=vb.100005457364396&type=3&theater

This issue has to be put out for everyone to discuss. It has to be an alternative to private insurance.

The rising numbers in suicide among the Military Families is growing. We have lost children to suicide that were struggling during deployment. Change needs to be made and resources must be available for these families at all times. We are calling all citizens to stand up for the Military as they are standing up for you! NO MORE CUTS IN MILITARY MENTAL HEALTH CARE! Our Soldiers and Families deserve better! We will be in Washington DC on November 17th, 2011 to speak before members of Congress and will be presenting this petition. Please help us protect the rights of those who serve!

UofL hospital is merging with Catholic Health Initiative, Jewish Hospital, St. Mary’s Healthcare, and Saint Joseph Health System. Due to this, 70% of the hospital will now be under Catholic rule. Reproductive services will be altered due to this. Many basic procedures will no longer be available at the University hospital location. Tubal ligations, among other procedures will be moved to Baptist East, causing student training and client accessibility to be taken into question. Merger information: http://louisville.edu/ocm/hospital-merger.html

Hearing loss is almost a given for seniors and can be greatly alleviated by using hearing aids. Aids, however, are prohibitive in cost and are not covered by Medicare. The social and psychological effects of hearing loss are profound and significantly affect a person's quality of life. We're asking Congress to include a partial payment of hearing-aid cost in its coverage.

Childhood lead poisoning remains a major public health problem in the U.S.; however, the U.S. Senate is proposing to eliminate funding to the CDC for public health programs to eliminate this terrible health problem. Currently, CDC spends about $30 million to support state programs that design and operate programs that target the elimination of the problem. Childhood lead poisoning costs billions. Studies show that every lead poisoning prevention dollar saves money and allows productive lives.

Hospital Emergency Room Patients should always be protected with doctors trained in Emergency Medicine 24/7. Only doctors who are certified in Emergency Medicine should be allowed to work in Hospital Emergency Rooms. My daughter suffered at the hands of a doctor who was not certified in Emergency Medicine. As a result of this, my daughter is in a persistent vegetative state, with little hope of ever recovering! By signing this petition you have a chance to help other daughters from suffering the same fate.

Injured Workers are also being asked to sacrifice in this state! Ohio is talking about lowering Workmens Comp. rates for employers. That money is being taken form injured workers, who had the misfortune of getting hurt doing their job.

Controlling costs associated with the delivery of health care can save over $400 billion per year equaling more than $4 trillion in ten years. The financing of health care through the private for profit insurance model has not only failed to deliver care to all, it has escalated associated costs through artificially accelerating administrative costs at every level by raising premiums, imposing restrictive regulations and punitively reducing payments to providers and patients. Furthermore, the Debt Reduction Committee has an opportunity to expand the most administratively successful health care program in America today, namely, Medicare, to improve it to include areas of health not formerly covered and to reform some aspects to provide immediate cost-savings. The Debt Reduction Committee should: 1. Expand and improve Medicare for everyone within the next four (4) years 2. Ask Congress to pass a bill declaring with every other developed nation that health care is a basic human right.