[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 62 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 62

Supporting the goals and ideals of ``National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness 
                                 Day''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           February 25, 2009

 Ms. Lee of California (for herself, Ms. Waters, Mrs. Christensen, Mr. 
Meeks of New York, Mr. Waxman, Ms. Edwards of Maryland, Ms. Jackson-Lee 
    of Texas, Mr. Towns, Ms. Watson, Mr. Serrano, Mr. Kucinich, Ms. 
   Baldwin, Mr. Hastings of Florida, Mr. Cummings, Ms. McCollum, Ms. 
   Bordallo, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Ms. Kilpatrick of Michigan, Mr. 
Nadler of New York, Mr. Davis of Illinois, Ms. Clarke, Mr. Butterfield, 
   Mr. Payne, and Ms. Schakowsky) 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 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that more 
        than 1,100,000 people are currently living with HIV in the United 
        States;
Whereas the CDC estimates that 56,300 individuals were newly infected with HIV 
        in 2006;
Whereas the CDC estimates that in 2006 approximately 232,700, or 21 percent of 
        individuals with HIV were unaware that they were infected;
Whereas the estimates by the CDC utilize a new methodology that has resulted in 
        more accurate estimates of new infections than the previous methodology;
Whereas the new estimates of HIV infection rates are 40 percent higher than 
        previous estimates;
Whereas African-Americans account for approximately 12 percent of the population 
        of the United States, but accounted for 45 percent of new HIV infections 
        in 2006;
Whereas, of the estimated 18,849 people under the age of 25 who were diagnosed 
        with HIV between 2001 and 2005, more than 60 percent were African-
        American;
Whereas young gay men of color bear a disproportionate burden of the epidemic, 
        with more new HIV infections in 2006 occurring among 13 to 29 year old 
        African-American men who have sex with men (MSM) than among any other 
        subpopulation of MSM;
Whereas in 2006, African-American women accounted for 61 percent of new HIV 
        infections among women and had an infection rate that was almost 15 
        times higher than that of White women;
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 the Black AIDS Institute notes that there are more African-Americans 
        living with HIV in the United States than there are people living with 
        HIV in 7 out of the 15 focus countries served by the President's 
        Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief;
Whereas the CDC notes that socioeconomic issues impact the rates of HIV 
        infection among African-Americans, and studies have found an association 
        between higher AIDS rates and lower incomes;
Whereas the rate of AIDS diagnoses for African-American adults and adolescents 
        is 10 times higher than that of their White counterparts, and the rate 
        of diagnoses for African-American women is nearly 23 times the rate for 
        White women;
Whereas African-Americans are diagnosed with AIDS later than their nonminority 
        counterparts, are confronted with barriers in accessing care and 
        treatment, and face higher morbidity and mortality outcomes;
Whereas the CDC estimates that among persons who where diagnosed with AIDS 
        during 1997 to 2004, African-Americans had the poorest survival rates of 
        any racial or ethnic group, with 66 percent surviving after 9 years 
        compared with 67 percent of American Indians and Alaska Natives, 74 
        percent of Hispanics, 75 percent of Whites, and 81 percent of Asians and 
        Pacific Islanders;
Whereas in 2004, AIDS was among the top 4 causes of death for African-American 
        men and women between the ages of 25 to 54, the number 2 cause of death 
        for African-American men between the ages of 35 to 44, and the number 1 
        cause of death for African-American women between the ages 25 to 34;
Whereas in 1998, 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 National 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'' and this year the slogan is ``Black Life is Worth 
        Saving'': Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That Congress--
            (1) supports the goals and ideals of ``National Black HIV/
        AIDS Awareness Day'' and recognizes the ninth 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, especially African-Americans, to get tested for 
        HIV;
            (3) encourages national, State, and local media 
        organizations to carry messages in support of ``National Black 
        HIV/AIDS Awareness Day'';
            (4) supports the development of a national AIDS strategy 
        with clear goals and objectives to reduce new HIV infections, 
        especially among African-Americans, men who have sex with men, 
        and other vulnerable communities;
            (5) supports the strengthening of stable African-American 
        communities;
            (6) supports reducing the impact of incarceration as a 
        driver of new HIV infections within the African-American 
        community;
            (7) supports reducing the number of HIV infections in the 
        African-American community resulting from injection drug use;
            (8) supports 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; and
            (9) supports appropriate funding for HIV/AIDS prevention, 
        care, treatment, and housing.
                                 <all>