[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 592 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 592

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


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 26, 2009

 Ms. Waters (for herself, Mrs. Christensen, Ms. Lee of California, Mr. 
Hastings of Florida, Ms. Bordallo, Mr. Grijalva, Ms. Roybal-Allard, Mr. 
 McGovern, Mr. Lewis of Georgia, Mr. Massa, Ms. Kilroy, Mr. Towns, and 
 Mr. Davis of Illinois) submitted the following resolution; which was 
            referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


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

Whereas HIV/AIDS is a devastating epidemic that continues to spread in 
        communities throughout the United States;
Whereas approximately 1,700,000 people in the United States have been infected 
        by HIV/AIDS since the first cases were reported 28 years ago;
Whereas there are approximately 1,100,000 people living with HIV/AIDS in the 
        United States today;
Whereas there are approximately 56,000 new HIV infections and more than 14,000 
        new AIDS-related deaths every year in the United States;
Whereas HIV/AIDS is spreading rapidly among women, young people, and racial 
        minorities, all of which are demographic groups that were not considered 
        to be at significant risk of HIV infection during the early years of the 
        epidemic;
Whereas women account for 27 percent of new AIDS cases in the United States, and 
        teen girls account for 39 percent of new AIDS cases among teenagers;
Whereas African-Americans account for about half of new AIDS cases, although 
        only 12 percent of the population as a whole is Black;
Whereas Hispanic-Americans account for 19 percent of new AIDS cases, although 
        only 15 percent of the population as a whole is Hispanic;
Whereas Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders account for 1 percent of new AIDS 
        cases, and Native Americans and Alaskan Natives account for up to 1 
        percent of new AIDS cases;
Whereas African-American women account for 65 percent of new AIDS cases among 
        women;
Whereas 71 percent of new AIDS cases are people of color;
Whereas about 21 percent of the people living with HIV/AIDS in the United States 
        do not know they are infected;
Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's guidelines for HIV 
        screening in healthcare settings recommend routine HIV testing for all 
        patients between the ages of 13 and 64, regardless of risk factors;
Whereas individuals are more likely to act responsibly and protect themselves 
        and other persons in the community when they know their HIV status;
Whereas encouraging people to be tested for HIV is a critical element in HIV/
        AIDS prevention and treatment efforts;
Whereas individuals who are HIV-positive must learn their status in order to 
        obtain counseling on managing their health, access appropriate medical 
        and social services, begin life-prolonging treatment, and take actions 
        to avoid spreading the virus to others;
Whereas physicians, physician's assistants, nurses, dentists, and other 
        clinicians play a vital role in providing access to HIV/AIDS awareness, 
        testing, treatment, and referral services, and in encouraging patients 
        to get tested for HIV;
Whereas Howard University College of Medicine has declared Tuesday, July 21, 
        2009, to be the second annual National Clinicians HIV/AIDS Testing and 
        Awareness Day in an effort to encourage clinicians nationwide to become 
        actively involved in HIV/AIDS awareness, testing, treatment, and 
        referral services;
Whereas a diverse group of organizations representing communities affected by 
        HIV/AIDS have partnered with Howard University College of Medicine to 
        promote the goals and ideals of National Clinicians HIV/AIDS Testing and 
        Awareness Day;
Whereas the second annual National Clinicians HIV/AIDS Testing and Awareness Day 
        will give all physicians, physician assistants, nurses, dentists, and 
        other clinicians an opportunity to get personally involved in the fight 
        against HIV/AIDS by taking an HIV test, personally demonstrating the 
        importance as well as the ease of HIV testing;
Whereas the National Clinicians HIV/AIDS Testing and Awareness Day will be a 
        call to action to clinicians nationwide to lead the way in dispelling 
        the myths and stigma associated with HIV testing and become vocal 
        advocates for patients and communities; and
Whereas the National Clinicians HIV/AIDS Testing and Awareness Day will 
        encourage clinicians to become actively involved in HIV/AIDS awareness, 
        testing, treatment, and referral services: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports the goals and ideals of the second annual 
        National Clinicians HIV/AIDS Testing and Awareness Day;
            (2) encourages primary care physicians and other clinicians 
        nationwide to become actively involved in HIV/AIDS awareness, 
        testing, treatment, and referral services;
            (3) encourages the media to observe the second annual 
        National Clinicians HIV/AIDS Testing and Awareness Day by 
        educating clinicians about the important role they play in 
        providing access to HIV/AIDS awareness, testing, treatment, and 
        referral services and by educating clinicians and the public 
        about the benefits of HIV testing; and
            (4) encourages individuals to get tested for HIV and 
        educate themselves about the prevention and treatment of HIV/
        AIDS.
                                 <all>