[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 334 Introduced in House (IH)]

112th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 334

      Supporting the goals and ideals of National HIV Testing Day.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 24, 2011

 Ms. Lee of California (for herself, Mr. Honda, Mrs. Christensen, Ms. 
 Baldwin, Ms. Norton, Ms. Roybal-Allard, and Mr. Jackson of Illinois) 
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.

Whereas in 2009, around the world, 33,300,000 people were living with HIV, 
        1,800,000 people died of AIDS-related illnesses, and another 2,600,000 
        people were newly infected, and, of these numbers, children under the 
        age of 15 accounted for 260,000 AIDS deaths, 370,000 new HIV infections, 
        and a total of 2,500,000 of all people living with HIV;
Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that in 
        the United States more than 1,100,000 people are living with HIV and 
        approximately 21 percent do not know they are infected;
Whereas the CDC estimates that a total of 617,025 people have died of AIDS in 
        the United States from the beginning of the HIV/AIDS epidemic through 
        2008;
Whereas the CDC estimates that each year 56,300 people become newly infected 
        with HIV in the United States, and, on average, an individual is 
        infected with HIV every 9\1/2\ minutes;
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 2008, African-Americans represented 
        48 percent of all people living with HIV in the United States, Whites 
        represented 33 percent, Hispanics represented 17 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 2008, men accounted for 75 percent 
        of all people living with HIV in the United States, and women 
        represented 25 percent;
Whereas the rate of new HIV infection for African-American women is nearly 15 
        times higher than White women, while the rate among Hispanic women is 
        nearly 4 times higher;
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 54 percent of all new 
        infections in 2008 occurring among young MSM of color, in particular, 
        bearing a disproportionate burden of the epidemic;
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 or hour;
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 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 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 President Obama announced the National HIV/AIDS Strategy on July 13, 
        2010, and established a goal of increasing the percentage of people 
        living with HIV who know their serostatus from 79 percent to 90 percent 
        by 2015;
Whereas increasing rates of testing is important to using Pre-Exposure 
        Prophylaxis (PrEP) as a promising prevention tool for MSM; and
Whereas as part of its overall public health mission, the CDC annually supports 
        the National HIV Prevention Conference and 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 implementation of the National AIDS 
        Strategy with clear goals and objectives to reduce new HIV 
        infections, especially among minority communities and men who 
        have sex with men.
                                 <all>