DES MOINES (June 11, 2014) - Marking the first change in state health code regarding HIV transmission in nearly a decade, Iowa Governor Terry E. Branstad signed a landmark bill on May 30 that will curb rampant convictions of people living with HIV for transmitting the virus by redefining the law to ensure only those who intend to spread HIV or behave with "reckless disregard" are penalized. The new HIV transmission bill should also ease an unspoken but clearly present discrimination toward HIV-positive Iowans in the state's legal justice system.

The bill, Senate File 2297, changes the Iowa Health Code so that proof of conduct with "reckless disregard" or intent to transmit HIV, or other communicable diseases like meningococcal disease and hepatitis of any form, is required before the infected person being accused can be charged. For years, the bill's passage has been pushed by more than 30 individuals and groups - including such influential entities as the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa, the Iowa Department of Public Health, the Iowa Attorney General's Office, the HIV Community Coalition, AIDS Healthcare Foundation and the University of Iowa - and ultimately resulted in the law passing unanimously through the state's House and Senate on April 30.

"We've seen people sentenced to 20 years in prison without even transmitting the virus," said Joseph Terrill, Director of Community Mobilization for AHF. "The passage of this bill will change how laws in Iowa are skewed against those living with infectious diseases, and it is a testament to the collaborative advocacy work being done by citizens and groups in the state with whom we were proud to partner on this years-long effort under the leadership of Iowan Tami Haught of CHAIN. This work is a template that advocates from other states can follow to end codified discrimination against individuals who are HIV-positive."

The bill's signing took place just ahead of Iowa's first "HIV Is Not A Crime" Conference, taking place all this week in the town of Grinnell. The conference, scheduled from June 2^nd through the 5^th at Grinnell College in Iowa, is itself a historic gathering that is looking at strategies for replicating Iowa's success in other states. Organized by and for HIV-positive individuals and their advocates, the conference is poised be a game changer for HIV decriminalization advocacy.

Major health code adjustments that arise from the bill include the changing of the definition of "exposure" to mean "engaging in conduct that poses a substantial risk of transmission" and protecting indicted individuals living with a virus if they are on a treatment regimen and employing "practical means to prevent transmission." It narrows the scope of criminalization to those infected individuals who knowingly expose an uninfected person with intent to transmit the virus or those who expose an uninfected person with "reckless disregard" as to whether or not the personal contracts the virus. If intent or disregard is proven, the accused faces felony penalties of varying gravities whether the exposed individual contracts the virus or not.

Evidenced knowledge of one's HIV-positive status and proof of engagement in conduct that carries potential for exposure are on their own insufficient for proving intent or disregard, according to the bill. The infected individual is also protected if they informed their partner of their status and the uninfected partner consented to exposure with that knowledge. Scientifically evaluated HIV tests are to be conducted and reviewed by medical practitioners to prove anyone accused of criminal transmission was in fact positive at the time of the alleged assault.

The bill is also significant in the ways it intrinsically updates Iowa state laws to meet the needs and circumstances of today's Iowans. It repeals an archaic law that outlawed certain sexual conduct between unmarried individuals, and also strikes down a health code provision that would allow a county attorney to simply use a positive HIV test result as enough evidence to file charges of criminal transmission.

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About AHF

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) is the largest non-profit HIV/AIDS healthcare provider in the USA. AHF currently provides medical care and/or services to over 312,000 individuals in 34 countries worldwide in the US, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean, Eastern Europe, and Asia. For more information, visit www.aidshealth.org, find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/aidshealth and follow us on Twitter: @AIDSHealthcare

Neurosurgeon Recommends Building Muscle as
Best Protection Against 'the Disease of Aging'
Offers 5 Exercises for a Solid Strength-Building Regime

If you want good health, a long life and to feel your best well into old age, the No. 1 most important thing you can do is strength-training, says Dr. Brett Osborn, author of "Get Serious, A Neurosurgeon's Guide to Optimal Health and Fitness," www.drbrettosborn.com

"Our ability to fight off disease resides in our muscles," Dr. Osborn says. "The greatest thing you can do for your body is to build muscle."

He cites a large, long-term study of nearly 9,000 men ages 20 to 80. After nearly 19 years, the men still living were those with the most muscular strength. (BMJ, formerly British Medical Journal, 2008).

Muscle is all protein - "nothing but good for you," Dr. Osborn says.

Fat, however, is an endocrine organ, meaning it releases hormones and other chemicals. When a person has excess fat, he or she also a disrupted flow of excess biochemicals, which can increase insulin resistance and boost risk factors for stroke and high blood pressure, among other problems.

"Increased cytokines, an immune system chemical, for example, are associated with increased risk for cardiovascular disease," Dr. Osborn says. "You're only as old as your arteries!"

Strength-training has health benefits for everyone, he adds, no matter their size.

"Some fat is visceral fat - it's stored around the organs and it's even more dangerous than the fat you can see," he says. "People who look thin may actually be carrying around a lot of visceral fat."

So, what's the workout Dr. Osborn recommends?

"Back to basics," he says. "These five exercises are the pillars of a solid training regime."

•  The squat is a full-body exercise; it's the basic movement around which all training should be centered. Heavy squats generate a robust hormonal response as numerous muscular structures are traumatized during the movement (even your biceps). Standing erect with a heavy load on your back and then repeatedly squatting down will stress your body inordinately - in a good way -- forcing it to grow more muscle.

•  The overhead press primarily activates the shoulders, arm extenders and chest. Lower body musculature is also activated as it counters the downward force of the dumbbell supported by the trainee. From the planted feet into the hands, force is transmitted through the skeletal system, stabilized by numerous muscular structures, most importantly the lower back.

•  The deadlift centers on the hamstrings, buttocks, lumbar extensors and quadriceps, essentially the large muscles of your backside and the front of your thighs. As power is transferred from the lower body into the bar through the upper body conduit, upper back muscles are also stressed, contrasting with the squat, which is supported by the hands. Deadlifts are considered by some to be the most complete training exercise.

•  The bench press mostly targets the chest, shoulders and triceps; it's the most popular among weightlifters, and it's very simple - trainees push the barbell off the lower chest until the arms are straight. This motion stresses not only the entire upper body, but also the lower body, which serves a stabilizing function. This provides a big hormonal response and plenty of bang for your buck.

•  The pull-up / chin-up stress upper body musculature into the body. A pull-up is done when hands gripping over the bar; a chin-up is where hands are gripping under the bar. Nine out of 10 people cannot do this exercise because most simply haven't put in the effort. It's also been called a "man's exercise, which is nonsense," he says. There are no gender-specific exercises. Women, too, should aspire to enjoy the health benefits entailed with this pillar.

"There are no secrets to a strong and healthier body; hard work is required for the body that will remain vital and strong at any age," Osborn says. "Always practice proper form and safety. Otherwise, the result will be the opposite of your goal, an injury."

About Dr. Brett Osborn

Brett Osborn is a New York University-trained, board-certified neurological surgeon with a secondary certification in anti-aging and regenerative medicine, Diplomate; American Bard of Neurological Surgery, Diplomate; American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine. He holds a CSCS honorarium from the National Strength and Conditioning Association. Dr. Osborn specializes in scientifically based nutrition and exercise as a means to achieve optimal health and preventing disease. He is the author "Get Serious, A Neurosurgeon's Guide to Optimal Health and Fitness," www.drbrettosborn.com.

Washington, D.C. - Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) today released the following statement on the bipartisan agreement proposed by Senators John McCain and Bernie Sanders in response to recent reports of misconduct within the Department of Veterans Affairs.

"We need solutions to the VA's chronic problems, and I believe this proposal contains many of those solutions. I'm hopeful the U.S. House can also work across the aisle to present a similar plan?and I'm ready and willing to work with anyone who shares my goal of addressing the VA's problems head on in a constructive and substantive way."

New Law to Provide Secondary Students with Life-Saving Skills in Case of an Emergency

NORMAL - Governor Pat Quinn today signed a bill that will require cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillator (AED) training for students in all Illinois high schools. The Governor was joined by the Laman and Bell families and the Associated Fire Fighters of Illinois at their annual meeting in Normal to sign the measure. Today's action is part of Governor Quinn's agenda to ensure the safety of people in every community across Illinois.

"It is not often our high school students are faced with the opportunity to save a life," Governor Quinn said. "Should an emergency arise, we want our students ready to step in and take action. This common-sense law will make sure they are better prepared to help their classmates, teachers, family and friends in case of an emergency."

House Bill 3724, sponsored by State Representative Daniel Burke (D-Chicago) and State Senator John Mulroe (D-Chicago), requires that all secondary schools in Illinois train students on how to properly administer CPR and how to use an AED. The new law allows students to opt out of the training if their parents submit a written objection. The law will be effective for the 2014-2015 school year.

The bill was recommended by George Laman, whose daughter Lauren collapsed and died at her high school drill team practice in 2008. An AED was available at the school but was not used until the paramedics arrived 13 minutes after the initial emergency call. Because Mr. Laman is a paramedic, he realized there was a need for training in CPR and AED usage in high schools across Illinois.

In January, Eric Bell's heart stopped due to a blockage in one of his arteries. His son Harry was able to correctly perform CPR on his father for twelve minutes until paramedics arrived on the scene. Harry, a junior at Fenwick High School, learned CPR during health class at the Catholic school in Oak Park. Eric believes he would not be alive today if it wasn't for Harry's quick reaction and previous training of CPR.

"We'd like to recognize the bill sponsors for helping make Illinois a safer place to live, and Governor Quinn for his long commitment to public safety in this state," Associated Fire Fighters of Illinois President Pat Devaney said.

"I would like to thank the Laman family for their remarkable efforts and their tireless work for House Bill 3724," Representative Burke said. "The loss of their daughter, Lauren, is what precipitated their efforts. It is important for people to know that this woman's legacy is now law and kids will be trained in these areas and could potentially save thousands of lives in the future."

"There are AEDs in schools now, but people need to know how to use them before they are effective," Senator Mulroe said. "These tools and the CPR and AED training are life-saving measures that our young people will be able to use the rest of their lives."

Since taking office, Governor Quinn has worked to improve public safety by supporting AED and CPR measures and programs. As Lieutenant Governor, in 2006 he announced the Heartsaver AED Fund to provide matching grants for AED purchases for public schools, park districts, conservation districts, forest preserves and public colleges and universities. He has expanded access to AEDs in public places across the state, and signed legislation to provide civil protections for citizens trained in CPR.