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HCON 62 IHCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Supporting the goals and ideals of ‘National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

February 25, 2009CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Ms. LEE of California (for herself, Ms. WATERS, Mrs. CHRISTENSEN, Mr. MEEKS of New York, Mr. WAXMAN, Ms. EDWARDS of Maryland, Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas, Mr. TOWNS, Ms. WATSON, Mr. SERRANO, Mr. KUCINICH, Ms. BALDWIN, Mr. HASTINGS of Florida, Mr. CUMMINGS, Ms. MCCOLLUM, Ms. BORDALLO, Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia, Ms. KILPATRICK of Michigan, Mr. NADLER of New York, Mr. DAVIS of Illinois, Ms. CLARKE, Mr. BUTTERFIELD, Mr. PAYNE, and Ms. SCHAKOWSKY) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and CommerceCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Supporting the goals and ideals of ‘National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that more than 1,100,000 people are currently living with HIV in the United States;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Whereas the CDC estimates that 56,300 individuals were newly infected with HIV in 2006;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Whereas the CDC estimates that in 2006 approximately 232,700, or 21 percent of individuals with HIV were unaware that they were infected;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Whereas the estimates by the CDC utilize a new methodology that has resulted in more accurate estimates of new infections than the previous methodology;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Whereas the new estimates of HIV infection rates are 40 percent higher than previous estimates;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Whereas African-Americans account for approximately 12 percent of the population of the United States, but accounted for 45 percent of new HIV infections in 2006;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Whereas, of the estimated 18,849 people under the age of 25 who were diagnosed with HIV between 2001 and 2005, more than 60 percent were African-American;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Whereas young gay men of color bear a disproportionate burden of the epidemic, with more new HIV infections in 2006 occurring among 13 to 29 year old African-American men who have sex with men (MSM) than among any other subpopulation of MSM;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Whereas in 2006, African-American women accounted for 61 percent of new HIV infections among women and had an infection rate that was almost 15 times higher than that of White women;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

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;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Whereas the CDC has determined that the leading cause of HIV infection among African-American women is heterosexual contact, followed by intravenous drug use;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Whereas the Black AIDS Institute notes that there are more African-Americans living with HIV in the United States than there are people living with HIV in 7 out of the 15 focus countries served by the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Whereas the CDC notes that socioeconomic issues impact the rates of HIV infection among African-Americans, and studies have found an association between higher AIDS rates and lower incomes;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Whereas the rate of AIDS diagnoses for African-American adults and adolescents is 10 times higher than that of their White counterparts, and the rate of diagnoses for African-American women is nearly 23 times the rate for White women;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Whereas African-Americans are diagnosed with AIDS later than their nonminority counterparts, are confronted with barriers in accessing care and treatment, and face higher morbidity and mortality outcomes;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Whereas the CDC estimates that among persons who where diagnosed with AIDS during 1997 to 2004, African-Americans had the poorest survival rates of any racial or ethnic group, with 66 percent surviving after 9 years compared with 67 percent of American Indians and Alaska Natives, 74 percent of Hispanics, 75 percent of Whites, and 81 percent of Asians and Pacific Islanders;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Whereas in 2004, AIDS was among the top 4 causes of death for African-American men and women between the ages of 25 to 54, the number 2 cause of death for African-American men between the ages of 35 to 44, and the number 1 cause of death for African-American women between the ages 25 to 34;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Whereas in 1998, 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;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Whereas the National 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;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

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’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Whereas February 7 of each year is now recognized as ‘National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day’ and this year the slogan is ‘Black Life is Worth Saving’: Now, therefore, be itCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That Congress--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) supports the goals and ideals of ‘National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day’ and recognizes the ninth anniversary of observing such day;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(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, especially African-Americans, to get tested for HIV;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) encourages national, State, and local media organizations to carry messages in support of ‘National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) supports the development of a national AIDS strategy with clear goals and objectives to reduce new HIV infections, especially among African-Americans, men who have sex with men, and other vulnerable communities;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) supports the strengthening of stable African-American communities;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(6) supports reducing the impact of incarceration as a driver of new HIV infections within the African-American community;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(7) supports reducing the number of HIV infections in the African-American community resulting from injection drug use;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(8) supports 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; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(9) supports appropriate funding for HIV/AIDS prevention, care, treatment, and housing.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink