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[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 463 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 463

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

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 20, 2017

Ms. Maxine Waters of California (for herself, Ms. Lee, Ms. Norton, Mrs. 
Napolitano, Ms. Bordallo, Ms. Judy Chu of California, Ms. Jackson Lee, 
 Ms. Wilson of Florida, Mr. Hastings, Mr. Payne, Mr. Evans, Ms. Clarke 
  of New York, Ms. Kelly of Illinois, Ms. Brownley of California, Ms. 
Adams, 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 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 more than 1,800,000 people in the United States have been infected by 
        HIV/AIDS since the first cases were reported 36 years ago;
Whereas there are more than 1,200,000 people living with HIV/AIDS in the United 
        States today;
Whereas, every year in the United States, there are more than 40,000 new HIV 
        diagnoses;
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 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 24 percent of new HIV infections, 
        although only 18 percent of the population as a whole is Hispanic;
Whereas Asian-Americans account for 2 percent of new HIV infections, and 
        American Indians/Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders, and 
        individuals of multiple races together account for an additional 4 
        percent;
Whereas African-American women account for 60 percent of new HIV infections 
        among women;
Whereas people of color account for 74 percent of new HIV infections;
Whereas about 13 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 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, 2017, to be 
        the tenth 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 tenth 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 tenth 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 tenth 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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