[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.
                                 <all>