[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 145 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 145

Supporting the goals and ideals of National Caribbean American HIV/AIDS 
                 Awareness Day, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              June 8, 2009

 Ms. Lee of California (for herself, Mrs. Christensen, Ms. Clarke, and 
 Mr. Meeks of New York) submitted the following concurrent resolution; 
       which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
Supporting the goals and ideals of National Caribbean American HIV/AIDS 
                 Awareness Day, and for other purposes.

Whereas nearly 3,000,000 Americans self-identified as Caribbean American in the 
        2000 Census;
Whereas due to ongoing racial and ethnic health disparities Caribbean Americans 
        face poor health, premature death, low-quality health care, and an 
        additional community stigma regarding HIV/AIDS and its causes;
Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that over 
        1,106,400 people were living with HIV/AIDS at the end of 2006 and that 
        over 232,700 were unaware that they were infected;
Whereas the CDC recognizes continuing racial and ethnic disparities among people 
        with HIV/AIDS and cites working to end such disparities as a key 
        initiative in the fight against HIV/AIDS;
Whereas the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) estimates that 
        230,000 people were living with HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean at the end of 
        2007 and that an additional 20,000 were newly infected, making the 
        region the second-most affected by HIV in the world;
Whereas UNAIDS estimates that approximately 14,000 people in the Caribbean died 
        of AIDS during 2007, making it one of the leading causes of death in the 
        Caribbean among adults between the ages of 15 to 49 years old;
Whereas according to the Bureau of the Census, immigration to the United States 
        from the Caribbean has increased every decade since 1941, with 978,800 
        Caribbean emigrants entering the United States from 1991 to 2000;
Whereas according to the Department of Homeland Security, 2,703,868 people 
        coming from the Caribbean have obtained legal permanent status in the 
        United States since 1980, including 134,744 in 2008 alone;
Whereas, on June 8, 2006, the first annual National Caribbean American HIV/AIDS 
        Awareness Day was organized to encourage Caribbean American and 
        Caribbean-born individuals across the United States and its territories, 
        to get educated, get tested, get treated, and get involved; and
Whereas June 8th of each year has been established as National Caribbean 
        American 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 Caribbean 
        American HIV/AIDS Awareness Day and recognizes the fourth 
        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 Caribbean 
        Americans, Caribbean-born individuals, and all people in the 
        United States and its territories to know their status and 
        undergo testing for HIV;
            (3) encourages national, State, and local media 
        organizations to carry messages in support of National 
        Caribbean American HIV/AIDS Awareness Day; and
            (4) supports the development of a national AIDS strategy 
        with clear goals and objectives to reduce new HIV infections, 
        especially among communities of color.
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