[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 585 Introduced in House (IH)]
111th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 585
Supporting the goals and ideals of National HIV Testing Day, and for
other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 25, 2009
Ms. Lee of California (for herself, Mrs. Christensen, Ms. Norton, Ms.
Baldwin, Ms. Roybal-Allard, Mr. Honda, and Ms. Waters) submitted the
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and
Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Supporting the goals and ideals of National HIV Testing Day, and for
other purposes.
Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that at
the end of 2006 1,106,400 people were living with the human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in the United States;
Whereas the CDC estimates that a total of 583,298 people died of acquired
immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in the United States from the beginning
of the HIV/AIDS epidemic through 2007;
Whereas the CDC estimates that there were 56,300 new cases of HIV infection in
the United States during 2006;
Whereas current estimates by the CDC utilize a new methodology that results in
more accurate estimates of new HIV infections;
Whereas previous estimates by the CDC of HIV infection rates undercounted the
rate of infection by 40 percent;
Whereas the CDC estimates that at the end of 2006, African-Americans represented
46 percent of all people living with HIV in the United States, Whites
represented 35 percent, Hispanics represented 18 percent, Asian-
Americans and Pacific Islanders represented 1 percent, and American
Indians and Alaska Natives represented less than 1 percent;
Whereas the CDC estimates that at the end of 2006, men accounted for 75 percent
of all people living with HIV in the United States, and women
represented 25 percent;
Whereas the CDC has determined that in the United States the leading
transmission category of HIV infection is male-to-male sexual contact,
followed by heterosexual contact and injection drug use;
Whereas men who have sex with men (MSM) have represented an increasing share of
new HIV infections over the past decade, with 57 percent of all new
infections in 2006 occurring among MSM;
Whereas young MSM of color, in particular, bear a disproportionate burden of the
HIV/AIDS epidemic;
Whereas the CDC estimates that in 2006, of the people in the United States
living with HIV, approximately 232,700 (or 21 percent) were unaware that
they were infected;
Whereas surveys indicate that many Americans want more information about HIV,
including information about the different types of tests available,
testing costs, test result confidentiality, and testing locations;
Whereas African-Americans and Hispanics are much more likely than Whites to say
they need more information about HIV testing;
Whereas studies have found that Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders are less
likely to report having sought HIV testing than other ethnic groups, are
more likely to be diagnosed at a later stage of the disease, and are
less likely, if diagnosed, to use HIV/AIDS services;
Whereas people at high risk of acquiring HIV are often at high risk of acquiring
other sexually transmitted diseases as well;
Whereas in 2008, the CDC estimated that 1 in 4 young women between the ages of
14 and 19 in the United States and nearly 1 in 2 African-American young
women in the United States were infected with at least 1 of the 4 most
common sexually transmitted diseases;
Whereas the CDC reports that when HIV-infected people know their status, they
are more likely to practice behaviors that reduce the risk of HIV
transmission to other people;
Whereas the CDC estimates that in 2006, of the people diagnosed as HIV-positive,
38 percent were later diagnosed with AIDS within 1 year of their HIV
test;
Whereas the CDC reports that early knowledge of HIV status is important for
connecting HIV-positive people with medical care and services that can
reduce mortality and prevent the onset of AIDS;
Whereas anxiety, misconception, and stigma have been traditionally associated
with HIV/AIDS and HIV testing;
Whereas the most commonly used HIV tests currently require a 2-week waiting
period for a diagnosis, and such a waiting period contributes to the
anxiety surrounding HIV testing that discourages people from receiving
their diagnosis;
Whereas the CDC estimated that in 2004, of the people who took an HIV test at
sites funded by the CDC, 22 percent did not return for their test
results;
Whereas rapid test kits approved by the Food and Drug Administration have made
HIV testing easier, more accessible, and less invasive, and can deliver
results within a single day;
Whereas prevention counseling is an essential part of HIV testing and, when
conducted according to established CDC guidelines, has been shown to be
effective at producing individual behavioral change;
Whereas the CDC's ``Advancing HIV Prevention Initiative: New Strategies for a
Changing Epidemic'', announced in April 2003, emphasizes the importance
of HIV testing;
Whereas in September 2006, the CDC released ``Revised Recommendations for HIV
Testing of Adults, Adolescents, and Pregnant Women in Health-Care
Settings'', which advises all health care providers in the public and
private sectors to provide routine HIV screening of adults, adolescents,
and pregnant women in health care settings in the United States, and
recommends reducing barriers to HIV testing;
Whereas in March 2007, the CDC, in partnership with leaders in the African-
American community, launched a ``Heightened National Response to the
HIV/AIDS Crisis among African Americans'' to mobilize a coordinated
response to HIV/AIDS in the African-American community and, as part of
this effort, announced a new initiative to increase HIV testing in
jurisdictions with the highest AIDS case rates among African-Americans;
Whereas, on April 7, 2009, the CDC launched a new communication campaign, ``Act
Against AIDS'', to facilitate awareness, public education, health
literacy, health care provider marketing, and highly targeted behavior
change communication objectives in the fight against HIV/AIDS;
Whereas the initial phase of the ``Act Against AIDS'' campaign, entitled ``9\1/
2\ Minutes'', is an effort to combat complacency about the HIV crisis in
the United States and raise awareness of the continued severity of the
HIV/AIDS epidemic and the fact that every 9\1/2\ minutes, on average,
someone in the United States is infected with HIV;
Whereas despite these efforts, the CDC has noted that ``new strategies are
warranted to increase HIV testing, particularly among persons who are
disproportionately affected by HIV infection'';
Whereas the National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA), founded in 1983,
is the oldest coalition of people living with HIV/AIDS, and advocates on
behalf of all people living with HIV/AIDS;
Whereas National HIV Testing Day is an annual campaign that was introduced in
1995 by NAPWA to encourage individuals to seek out and receive voluntary
HIV counseling and testing;
Whereas the theme of National HIV Testing Day 2009 is ``Take the test, take
control'';
Whereas as part of its overall public health mission, the CDC annually supports
the National HIV Prevention Conference and National HIV Testing Day; and
Whereas June 27 of each year is now recognized as National HIV Testing Day: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) supports the goals and ideals of National HIV Testing
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 to undergo counseling and testing for HIV and other
sexually transmitted diseases;
(3) encourages the use of rapid test kits approved by the
Food and Drug Administration as a fast and efficient method of
HIV testing;
(4) encourages national, State, and local media
organizations to carry messages in support of National HIV
Testing Day;
(5) commends the President for emphasizing the importance
of addressing the HIV/AIDS epidemic among all Americans; and
(6) supports the development of a National AIDS Strategy
with clear goals and objectives to reduce new HIV infections,
especially among minority communities and men who have sex with
men.
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