[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 35 Introduced in House (IH)]
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. CON. RES. 35
Supporting the goals and ideals of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness
Day.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 18, 2007
Ms. Lee (for herself, Mrs. Christensen, Ms. Waters, Mr. Towns, and Ms.
Kilpatrick of Michigan) submitted the following concurrent resolution;
which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Supporting the goals and ideals of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness
Day.
Whereas the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the United States has shifted primarily to the
African-American community and other communities of color;
Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has stated that, at
the end of 2005, over 188,000 African Americans were living with AIDS,
representing 44 percent of all cases in the United States;
Whereas since the beginning of the epidemic, African Americans have accounted
for nearly 400,000 or 42 percent of the estimated 953,000 AIDS cases
diagnosed, and through December 2005, an estimated 211,559 African
Americans with AIDS have died;
Whereas the CDC has further stated that, in 2005, African Americans accounted
for nearly 50 percent of all new HIV infections, despite representing
only about 12.3 percent of the population (according to the 2000
Census);
Whereas the CDC estimates that, in 2005, African-American women accounted for
over 66 percent of all HIV/AIDS cases among women, and were 25 times
more likely to be infected than White women;
Whereas the CDC estimates that of the over 18,800 people under the age of 25
whose diagnosis of HIV/AIDS was made during 2001-2004, 61 percent were
African American;
Whereas the CDC estimates that 73 percent of all children born to HIV infected
mothers in 2004 were African-American;
Whereas the CDC has determined that the leading cause of HIV infection among
African-American men is sexual contact with other men, followed by
intravenous drug use and heterosexual contact;
Whereas the CDC has determined that the leading cause of HIV infection among
African-American women is heterosexual contact, followed by intravenous
drug use;
Whereas in 2002, AIDS was among the top three causes of death for African-
American men in the age group 25 through 54, among the top four causes
of death for African-American women in the age group 25 through 54, and
the number one cause of death for African-American women aged 25 to 34
years;
Whereas the CDC estimates that, since 1996, African Americans have the poorest
survival rates of any racial or ethnic group diagnosed with AIDS, with
64 percent surviving after 9 years compared to 65 percent of American
Indians and Alaska Natives, 72 percent of Hispanics, 74 percent of
Whites, and 81 percent of Asian Pacific Islanders;
Whereas African Americans are diagnosed with AIDS later than nonminority
counterparts, are confronted with barriers in accessing care and
treatment, and due to marginalized social status and stigma face higher
morbidity and mortality outcomes;
Whereas in 1998, the Congress and the Clinton Administration created the
National Minority AIDS Initiative to help coordinate funding, build
capacity, and provide prevention, care, and treatment services within
the African-American, Hispanic, Asian Pacific Islander, and Native
American communities;
Whereas the Minority AIDS Initiative assists with leadership development of
community-based organizations (CBOs), establishes and links provider
networks, builds community prevention infrastructure, promotes technical
assistance among CBOs, and raises awareness among African-American
communities;
Whereas on February 23, 2001, the first annual National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness
Day was organized, with the slogan ``Get Educated, Get Involved, Get
Tested''; and
Whereas February 7 of each year is now recognized as National Black HIV/AIDS
Awareness Day: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),
That the Congress--
(1) supports the goals and ideals of National Black HIV/
AIDS Awareness Day and recognizes the seventh anniversary of
observing such day;
(2) encourages State and local governments, including their
public health agencies, to recognize such day, to publicize its
importance among their communities, and to encourage
individuals to undergo testing for HIV;
(3) encourages national, State, and local media
organizations to carry messages in support of National Black
HIV/AIDS Awareness Day;
(4) supports full and equitable funding for the Ryan White
HIV/AIDS Treatment Modernization Act of 2006;
(5) applauds the codification of the Minority AIDS
Initiative within the reauthorization of the Ryan White CARE
Act;
(6) supports the appropriate expansion of HIV/AIDS funding
under Medicare and Medicaid;
(7) supports the strengthening of stable African-American
communities by addressing the need for more affordable housing,
including the expansion of the Housing Opportunities for
Persons with AIDS program.
(8) supports reducing the impact of incarceration as a
driver of new HIV infections within the African-American
community by--
(A) providing voluntary, routine HIV testing of
incarcerated persons upon entry and release;
(B) making HIV prevention education available in
correctional facilities; and
(C) expanding reentry programs to help ex-offenders
successfully transition back into society;
(9) supports the expansion of effective and comprehensive
HIV prevention education programs to promote the early
identification of HIV through voluntary routine testing, and to
connect those in need to treatment and care as early as
possible;
(10) supports reducing the number of HIV infections in the
African-American community resulting from injection drug use by
expanding substance abuse prevention programs, drug treatment
and recovery services, and innovative harm reduction programs
for those who are currently addicted; and
(11) supports efforts to link those infected with HIV to
accessible care and treatment options.
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