III 110th CONGRESS 2d Session S. RES. 479 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

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.