[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 64 (Wednesday, May 11, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E870-E871]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   INTRODUCTION FOR A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF 
       NATIONAL ASIAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER HIV/AIDS AWARENESS DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. MADELEINE Z. BORDALLO

                                of guam

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 11, 2011

  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, today I have introduced a resolution to 
honor the memory of 3,408 Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and 
Pacific Islanders we have lost to AIDS, and to recognize the 9,000 whom 
are still living with HIV/AIDS in the United States. It supports the 
goals and ideals of National Asian and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS 
Awareness Day, its observance, and, draws attention to the stigma and 
disparities that hinder proper treatment and prevention within these 
communities.
  Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders comprise more than 40 different 
ethnic sub-groups, speaking more than 100 languages and dialects. This 
resolution recognizes the importance of providing access to culturally- 
and linguistically-competent services, especially HIV testing. 
According to an analysis of recent data from the Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention (CDC), Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders 
were the only racial/ethnic groups with a statistically significant 
increase in new HIV diagnoses. The CDC estimates that 37% of the HIV 
diagnoses among these communities progress to AIDS in less than 12 
months. Additionally, the CDC estimates that 1 in 3 Asian Americans, 
Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders living with HIV/AIDS are 
unaware they are infected.
  Yet, with increasing rates of infection, they continue to have the 
lowest rates of access to HIV testing services. Although there are a 
number of factors that contribute to increasing rates of infections, 
stigma and discrimination associated with HIV/AIDS has proved to be a 
leading factor in low testing rates and increased risk-taking 
behaviors.
  The observance of National Asian & Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS 
Awareness Day was established by the Banyan Tree Project, and began as 
a national campaign to raise awareness of the impact of the HIV/AIDS-
related stigma and how it contributes to lower testing rates and 
greater risk-taking behaviors.
  I look forward to working with my colleagues in addressing this need 
and advancing the larger cause of reducing HIV/AIDS-related stigmas and 
disparities in access to HIV prevention, testing, and treatment. I 
would like to thank my colleagues, Representative Honda, Representative 
Faleomavaego, Representative Wu, Representative Pierluisi, 
Representative Maloney, Representative Connolly, Representative 
Christensen, Representative Lee, Representative Grijalva, 
Representative Al Green, Representative Robert Scott, Representative 
Sablan, and Representative McDermott for their support as original 
cosponsors to this resolution.
    

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