[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 844 Engrossed in House (EH)]


H. Res. 844

                 In the House of Representatives, U.S.,

                                                         July 28, 2006.
Whereas HIV/AIDS has killed over 25,000,000 people worldwide and poses a serious 
        threat to the economic and political stability of the countries hit 
        hardest by this terrible epidemic;
Whereas the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) was founded in 1996 as 
        a public-private partnership with a mission to ensure the development of 
        safe, effective, accessible, preventive HIV/AIDS vaccines for use 
        throughout the world, with a particular focus on developing countries, 
        where the need is most urgent;
Whereas the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative's research and policy programs 
        have galvanized scientific efforts and substantially increased financial 
        and political support for this vital effort;
Whereas since its founding, the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative has 
        advanced six vaccine candidates from concept to clinical trials, 
        targeting the subtypes of HIV circulating in the developing world--a 
        record matched only by one large pharmaceutical company;
Whereas ten years ago only a few developing countries had participated in HIV/
        AIDS vaccine trials, but today several countries in sub-Saharan Africa 
        and Asia are actively participating in HIV/AIDS vaccine trials, a 
        reflection of the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative's activism and 
        commitment to working collaboratively with developing country partners;
Whereas the model of the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, which closely 
        links clinical trial site investigators to product developers, has 
        resulted in the first HIV/AIDS vaccine trials being conducted in Kenya, 
        Rwanda, and India, as well as trials in Uganda and South Africa;
Whereas the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative is a founding member of the 
        Global HIV/AIDS Vaccine Enterprise, recognized by the G-8 as an 
        important actor in the quest for a vaccine; is an affiliated member of 
        the National Institutes of Health's Partnership for AIDS Vaccine 
        Evaluation; and is hosting NIH trials at International AIDS Vaccine 
        Initiative sites in Africa;
Whereas the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative's Core Clinical Immunology 
        Laboratory was the first Good Clinical Laboratory Practices (GCLP) 
        accredited laboratory in the world to assess HIV/AIDS vaccines, and the 
        International AIDS Vaccine Initiative's laboratory in Uganda was the 
        first to receive such accreditation in Africa; and
Whereas the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative established a ground-breaking 
        Neutralizing Antibody Consortium to address one of the key scientific 
        challenges to vaccine design: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) congratulates the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative on ten 
        years of significant achievement in the search for an HIV/AIDS vaccine;
            (2) recognizes the role of the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative 
        in raising awareness and increasing financial and political support for 
        this important cause;
            (3) admires the commitment of the International AIDS Vaccine 
        Initiative to collaborating with developing country researchers, 
        governments, and civil society in the common goal of finding a vaccine;
            (4) expresses support for the continued success of the International 
        AIDS Vaccine Initiative; and
            (5) directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to transmit an 
        enrolled copy of this resolution to the International AIDS Vaccine 
        Initiative.
            Attest:

                                                                          Clerk.