Comment on FR Doc # E8-23485

I am writing to comment on the proposed changes to the medical screening requirements for admittance to the United States. I urge you to remove the requirement that aliens be negative for HIV for short-term visits to the United States. The current policy, refusing entry even for short visits for people with HIV, does not make sense in today's world. It is known that HIV has specific methods of transmission, and the likelihood that an HIV-positive foreign visitor would present an unusual risk of disease is extremely low. In an economy that is currently struggling, it is not a good idea to refuse visitors who present a low risk, or to discourage visitors who are HIV-negative, but visit other places that do not place harsh restrictions. Additionally, it is extremely close to the change in administration, and I urge you to postpone the publication of the final rule until after the new administration is in place in late January, 2009. Because this issue is of a sensitive and foreign relations matter, the new administration should weigh in on it. Thank you.