[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 7377-7378]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




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

                         Tuesday, May 19, 2015

  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, today I have reintroduced a resolution to 
honor the memory of the Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific 
Islanders we have lost to AIDS, and to recognize those whom are still 
living with HIV/AIDS the United States. The resolution supports the 
goals and ideals of National Asian and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS 
Awareness Day and its observance, and it draws attention to the stigma 
and disparities that hinder proper treatment and prevention within 
these communities.
  Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders comprise more than 50 different 
ethnic subgroups,

[[Page 7378]]

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 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 36 percent of the HIV diagnoses among 
these communities progress to AIDS in less than 12 months. 
Additionally, the CDC estimates among people living with HIV/AIDS, 22 
percent of Asian Americans and 27 percent of Native Hawaiians and 
Pacific Islanders are unaware they are infected with HIV.
  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 an HIV/AIDS has proved to be 
a leading factor in low testing rates and increased risk-taking 
behaviors.
  The observance of National Asian and 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. Additionally, the work continues with 
the Asian and Pacific Islander American Health Forum who have worked 
nationally for more than 20 years, including in my home district of 
Guam, in helping to strengthen community-based organizations and 
programs responding to HIV/AIDS among Asian Americans, Native 
Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders.
  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 thank 
my colleagues, Representatives Judy Chu, Raul Grijalva, Mike Honda, 
Barbara Lee, Ted Lieu, Alan Lowenthal, Jim McDermott, Pedro Pierluisi, 
Amata Radewagen, Charles Rangel, Adam Schiff, Adam Smith, and Mark 
Takano for their support as original cosponsors of this resolution.

                          ____________________