[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 737 Introduced in House (IH)]

112th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 737

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


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 19, 2012

     Ms. Waters (for herself, Mr. Towns, Mr. Clay, Ms. Norton, Ms. 
    Richardson, Ms. Clarke of New York, Mr. Butterfield, Ms. Lee of 
 California, Mrs. Christensen, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Ms. Jackson Lee 
  of Texas, Ms. Roybal-Allard, Mr. Rush, Ms. Bass of California, Ms. 
    Woolsey, Ms. Loretta Sanchez of California, and Mr. Hastings of 
Florida) 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 31 years ago;
Whereas there are approximately 1,200,000 people living with HIV/AIDS in the 
        United States today;
Whereas there are approximately 50,000 new HIV infections and approximately 
        18,000 new AIDS-related deaths every year in the United States;
Whereas every 9\1/2\ minutes another person in the United States becomes 
        infected with HIV;
Whereas President Barack Obama released the National HIV/AIDS Strategy on July 
        13, 2010, in order to refocus attention on the domestic HIV/AIDS 
        epidemic;
Whereas the National HIV/AIDS Strategy focuses on three major goals, including 
        reducing the number of new HIV infections, increasing access to care and 
        improving health outcomes for people living with HIV and AIDS, and 
        reducing HIV-related health disparities;
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 23 percent of new HIV infections in the United States;
Whereas African-Americans account for 44 percent of new HIV infections, although 
        only 12 percent of the population as a whole is Black;
Whereas Hispanic-Americans account for 20 percent of new HIV infections, 
        although only 16 percent of the population as a whole is Hispanic;
Whereas Asian-Americans account for 2 percent of new HIV infections, and Native 
        Americans and Alaskan Natives account for 1 percent of new HIV 
        infections;
Whereas African-American women account for 64 percent of new AIDS cases among 
        women and 57 percent of new HIV infections among women;
Whereas people of color account for 68 percent of new HIV infections;
Whereas about 20 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 health care 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 July 21, 2012, to be 
        the fifth 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 fifth 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 fifth 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 fifth 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.
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