[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 479 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]







110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 479

Designating March 20, 2008, as ``Second Annual National Native HIV/AIDS 
                            Awareness Day''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 11, 2008

  Ms. Murkowski (for herself, Mr. Tester, Mr. Smith, and Mr. Baucus) 
 submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Designating March 20, 2008, as ``Second Annual National Native HIV/AIDS 
                            Awareness Day''.

Whereas the number of human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immunodeficiency 
        syndrome (hereafter ``HIV/AIDS'') cases among American Indian and Alaska 
        Native communities has been increasing at an alarming rate and poses a 
        significant threat to the public health of Native communities;
Whereas American Indians and Alaska Natives have the 3rd highest rate of HIV/
        AIDS infection in the United States, after Blacks and Hispanics;
Whereas, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention HIV/AIDS 
        Surveillance Report published in 2005, the rate per 100,000 persons of 
        HIV/AIDS diagnosis for American Indians and Alaska Natives was 10.4;
Whereas American Indians and Alaska Natives experience the highest disease and 
        mortality rates in the United States compared to other racial and ethnic 
        groups, due to socioeconomic factors that include consistently high 
        rates of poverty, inadequate education, and a lack of access to quality 
        health services;
Whereas certain risk factors exist among Indian and Alaska Native populations 
        that elevate the threat of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, including high rates 
        of sexually transmitted diseases and substance abuse;
Whereas, according to the 2005 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
        Sexually Transmitted Disease Surveillance Report, American Indians and 
        Alaska Natives have the 2nd highest infection rates of gonorrhea and 
        chlamydia in the United States and the 3rd highest infection rate of 
        syphilis;
Whereas, according to the 2005 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, American 
        Indians and Alaska Natives had a 12.8 percent higher rate of illicit 
        drug use than any other races or ethnicities;
Whereas, during the years 1997-2004, of persons who had received a diagnosis of 
        HIV/AIDS, American Indians and Alaska Natives had survived a shorter 
        time than had Asians and Pacific Islanders, Whites, or Hispanics;
Whereas, after 9 years, 67 percent of American Indians and Alaska Natives who 
        had been diagnosed with HIV/AIDS were alive, compared to 66 percent of 
        Blacks, 74 percent of Hispanics, 75 percent of Whites, and 81 percent of 
        Asians and Pacific Islanders;
Whereas, from 2001 through 2004, the estimated number of HIV/AIDS cases 
        increased among Whites, Asians and Pacific Islanders, and American 
        Indians and Alaska Natives, and decreased among Blacks and Hispanics; 
        and
Whereas, from 2000 through 2004, the estimated number of deaths among persons 
        with AIDS decreased among Whites, Blacks, and Asians and Pacific 
        Islanders, but increased among American Indians and Alaska Natives: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) recognizes the seriousness of the spread and threat of 
        the human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immunodeficiency 
        syndrome (HIV/AIDS) epidemic in American Indian and Alaska 
        Native communities;
            (2) encourages Federal, State, and tribal governments as 
        well as Indian organizations and health care providers to 
        coordinate efforts in HIV/AIDS testing and in the promotion of 
        prevention activities to further efforts in the reduction of 
        HIV/AIDS infection rates among American Indians and Alaska 
        Natives; and
            (3) designates March 20, 2008, as ``Second Annual National 
        Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day''.
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