[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 41 (Tuesday, March 11, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S1882]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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 SENATE RESOLUTION 479--DESIGNATING MARCH 20, 2008, AS ``SECOND ANNUAL 
                NATIONAL NATIVE HIV/AIDS AWARENESS DAY''

  Ms. MURKOWSKI (for herself, Mr. Tester, Mr. Smith, and Mr. Baucus) 
submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 479

       Whereas the number of human immunodeficiency virus and 
     acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (hereafter ``HIV/AIDS'') 
     cases among American Indian and Alaska Native communities has 
     been increasing at an alarming rate and poses a significant 
     threat to the public health of Native communities;
       Whereas American Indians and Alaska Natives have the 3rd 
     highest rate of HIV/AIDS infection in the United States, 
     after Blacks and Hispanics;
       Whereas, according to the Centers for Disease Control and 
     Prevention HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report published in 2005, 
     the rate per 100,000 persons of HIV/AIDS diagnosis for 
     American Indians and Alaska Natives was 10.4;
       Whereas American Indians and Alaska Natives experience the 
     highest disease and mortality rates in the United States 
     compared to other racial and ethnic groups, due to 
     socioeconomic factors that include consistently high rates of 
     poverty, inadequate education, and a lack of access to 
     quality health services;
       Whereas certain risk factors exist among Indian and Alaska 
     Native populations that elevate the threat of the HIV/AIDS 
     epidemic, including high rates of sexually transmitted 
     diseases and substance abuse;
       Whereas, according to the 2005 Centers for Disease Control 
     and Prevention Sexually Transmitted Disease Surveillance 
     Report, American Indians and Alaska Natives have the 2nd 
     highest infection rates of gonorrhea and chlamydia in the 
     United States and the 3rd highest infection rate of syphilis;
       Whereas, according to the 2005 National Survey on Drug Use 
     and Health, American Indians and Alaska Natives had a 12.8 
     percent higher rate of illicit drug use than any other races 
     or ethnicities;
       Whereas, during the years 1997-2004, of persons who had 
     received a diagnosis of HIV/AIDS, American Indians and Alaska 
     Natives had survived a shorter time than had Asians and 
     Pacific Islanders, Whites, or Hispanics;
       Whereas, after 9 years, 67 percent of American Indians and 
     Alaska Natives who had been diagnosed with HIV/AIDS were 
     alive, compared to 66 percent of Blacks, 74 percent of 
     Hispanics, 75 percent of Whites, and 81 percent of Asians and 
     Pacific Islanders;
       Whereas, from 2001 through 2004, the estimated number of 
     HIV/AIDS cases increased among Whites, Asians and Pacific 
     Islanders, and American Indians and Alaska Natives, and 
     decreased among Blacks and Hispanics; and
       Whereas, from 2000 through 2004, the estimated number of 
     deaths among persons with AIDS decreased among Whites, 
     Blacks, and Asians and Pacific Islanders, but increased among 
     American Indians and Alaska Natives: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes the seriousness of the spread and threat of 
     the human immunodeficiency virus and acquired 
     immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) epidemic in American 
     Indian and Alaska Native communities;
       (2) encourages Federal, State, and tribal governments as 
     well as Indian organizations and health care providers to 
     coordinate efforts in HIV/AIDS testing and in the promotion 
     of prevention activities to further efforts in the reduction 
     of HIV/AIDS infection rates among American Indians and Alaska 
     Natives; and
       (3) designates March 20, 2008, as ``Second Annual National 
     Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day''.

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