[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 649 Introduced in House (IH)]

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117th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 649

    Supporting the goals and ideals of National HIV/AIDS and Aging 
                             Awareness Day.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 17, 2021

 Ms. Lee of California (for herself, Miss Gonzalez-Colon, Mrs. Carolyn 
B. Maloney of New York, Ms. Salazar, Mr. Deutch, Mr. Danny K. Davis of 
Illinois, Ms. Schakowsky, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Mr. Rush, Mr. Cicilline, Mr. 
  Tonko, Ms. Dean, Ms. Sewell, Mr. Soto, Mr. Quigley, Ms. Williams of 
    Georgia, Mr. Jones, Ms. Craig, Ms. Barragan, and Mr. McGovern) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
                         on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
    Supporting the goals and ideals of National HIV/AIDS and Aging 
                             Awareness Day.

Whereas National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day is a nationwide observance 
        that brings attention to the growing number of people living with HIV/
        AIDS (PLWHA) who are living long and full lives, to their health, and to 
        their social needs;
Whereas, more than 40 years into the epidemic, the Centers for Disease Control 
        and Prevention estimates that in the United States there are more than 
        1,200,000 PLWHA, and every year approximately 40,000 people acquire HIV/
        AIDS;
Whereas over half of PLWHA in the United States and dependent areas are 
        individuals who are someone aged 50 or older;
Whereas, globally, there are 5,700,000 PLWHA aged 50 and older;
Whereas, in the United States, one in six of every new HIV diagnosis is of 
        someone aged 50 and over;
Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports over 100,000 
        PLWHA are over the age of 65 now in the United States, and this trend of 
        the aging of the HIV population increases every year and it's projected 
        that by 2030 75 percent of PLWHA in the United States will be over the 
        age of 50;
Whereas research indicates that older Americans are more likely than younger 
        Americans to be diagnosed with HIV late in the course of their disease 
        progression, and are more likely to be diagnosed with advanced HIV or 
        AIDS;
Whereas the Department of Health and Human Services reports that those people 
        living with HIV/AIDS for many years can exhibit clinical characteristics 
        observed in aging, including multiple chronic diseases or coexisting 
        conditions, the use of multiple medications, changes in physical and 
        cognitive abilities, and increased vulnerability to stressors;
Whereas PLWHA contract comorbidities on average earlier in age, sometimes by as 
        much as 15 years, and at higher rates by 2 to 5 times;
Whereas comorbidities may include heart disease, kidney disease, bone disease, 
        cancers, cognitive dysfunction, and mental and physical impairment or 
        disability;
Whereas recent studies report reduced life expectancy and greater mortality 
        rates for older PLWHA, African Americans, and women with HIV have higher 
        rates of comorbidities and risk for mortality; and
Whereas September 18 of each year is now recognized as National HIV/AIDS and 
        Aging Awareness Day: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports the goals and ideals of National HIV/AIDS and 
        Aging Awareness Day;
            (2) encourages Tribal, Territorial, State, and local 
        governments, including their public health agencies, geriatric 
        providers and professionals, State units on aging, area 
        agencies on aging, and media organizations, to recognize and 
        support such a day;
            (3) supports the right of older PLWHA to education, 
        prevention, treatment, and care, and to live without 
        criminalization, discrimination, oppression, and stigma;
            (4) supports increased services and access to health care 
        and treatment for PLWHA, particularly women and older people 
        among the estimated over 400,000 PLWHA who are not in care or 
        virally suppressed;
            (5) supports sound policymaking based on the premise of 
        Treatment as Prevention or ``U=U'';
            (6) supports removal of HIV/AIDS laws that are 
        scientifically inaccurate and unfairly criminalize older PLWHA 
        for behaviors that are consensual or have no risk of 
        transmission;
            (7) urges age-friendly and accessible health care services, 
        especially access to medications such as preexposure 
        prophylaxis, postexposure prophylaxis, and antiretroviral 
        therapy, without regard to age--
                    (A) to better provide for the early identification 
                of HIV/AIDS through voluntary routine testing of people 
                of all ages; and
                    (B) to connect those in need to clinically and 
                culturally appropriate care and treatment as early as 
                possible;
            (8) supports the increase of funding for programs that 
        support people impacted by and living with HIV/AIDS, including 
        the Ryan White HIV/AIDS program, the Medicaid program, AIDS 
        Drug Assistance programs, the Centers for Disease Control and 
        Prevention's National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, 
        STD, and TB Prevention program, the Housing Opportunities for 
        Persons With AIDS program, and programs that support older 
        PLWHA, including by--
                    (A) educating communities on testing and treatment 
                options for PLWHA;
                    (B) helping PLWHA to access preexposure 
                prophylaxis; and
                    (C) supporting increased services and access to 
                health care and treatment for PLWHA, particularly older 
                people, who are among the estimated 400,000 PLWHA who 
                are not in care or virally suppressed;
            (9) recognizes that the current HIV health care system does 
        not meet the needs of the aging (older than 50 years old) and 
        elderly (older than 65 years old) PLWHA population and must be 
        reconfigured and expanded;
            (10) supports the expansion to provide patient-centered 
        care that meets the needs of the aging and elderly population 
        through incorporating systems and geriatric elements and of 
        care through HIV clinics and its systems of care; and
            (11) recommends a comprehensive prevention and treatment 
        strategy that empowers older people, public health workers, 
        geriatric providers and professionals, faith leaders, and other 
        stakeholders to--
                    (A) fully engage with their communities and 
                families to improve the quality of life and health for 
                those PLWHA;
                    (B) help decrease violence, discrimination, and 
                stigma toward individuals who disclose their sexual 
                orientation or HIV/AIDS status; and
                    (C) provide older PLWHA the services and supports 
                they need as they age.
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