IV 111th CONGRESS 1st Session H. RES. 439 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 14, 2009 Ms. Bordallo (for herself, Mr. Honda, Mr. Faleomavaega, Mr. Abercrombie, Ms. Lee of California, Mr. Wu, Mr. Grijalva, Mr. Al Green of Texas, Ms. Matsui, Ms. Hirono, Mr. Cao, and Mr. Sablan) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce RESOLUTION Supporting the goals and ideals of National Asian American and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.

Whereas Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders constitute diverse communities that include over 50 different ethnic subgroups that speak over 100 languages and dialects; Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that over 8,232 AIDS cases have been diagnosed among Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders; Whereas the CDC has reported in its 02/10/06 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report that the estimated annual percentage changes in HIV/AIDS diagnosis rates were higher for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States than for any other racial/ethnic minority group with rates for men being 8.1 and for women 14.3; Whereas significant barriers remain for accessing culturally and linguistically competent services, especially HIV testing; Whereas with increasing rates of infection, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders continue to have the lowest rates of accessing HIV testing (32.6 percent); Whereas the CDC estimates that almost 30 percent of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders living with HIV/AIDS are unaware that they are infected with HIV; Whereas HIV/AIDS stigma and discrimination continues to be a growing problem in all communities, including the Asian American and Pacific Islander community; Whereas HIV/AIDS stigma and discrimination increases risk-taking behavior and prevents people from accessing the HIV/AIDS services and support they need; Whereas the development of the Minority AIDS Initiative in 1998 to coordinate funding, capacity building and prevention, care, and treatment services within African-American, Hispanic, Asian American, Pacific Islander, and Native American communities has assisted with the development of leadership in minority community-based organizations, provided culturally and linguistically competent HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and treatment services, developed community capacity and infrastructure, promoted technical assistance and resources, and raised awareness among Asian American and Pacific Islander communities; and Whereas, on May 19, 2009, community members from all racial/ethnic groups will come together in recognition of the fifth annual National Asian American and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day: Now, therefore, be it

That the House of Representatives— (1)supports the observance of National Asian American and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day in order to honor the memory of the 3,400 Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders with AIDS in the United States who have died, as well as the 3,160 Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who are still living with HIV/AIDS; (2)recognizes the importance of culturally and linguistically competent services as a core element in reducing HIV/AIDS rates in Asian American and Pacific Islander communities; (3)recognizes the importance of addressing the gaps in research and data in order to fully understand the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Asian American and Pacific Islander communities; and (4)recognizes the people across the United States infected and affected by HIV/AIDS who are commemorating this day with community-wide activities and who work to reduce the impact of HIV/AIDS on Asian American and Pacific Islander communities across the United States and the United States affiliated Pacific Island jurisdictions.