III 

110TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 479 

Designating March 20, 2008, as ‘‘Second Annual National Native HIV/ 

AIDS Awareness Day’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MARCH 11, 2008 

Ms. MURKOWSKI (for herself, Mr. TESTER, Mr. SMITH, and Mr. BAUCUS) 

submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Designating March 20, 2008, as ‘‘Second Annual National 

Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day’’. 

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; 


wwoods2 on PRODPC68 with BILLS
2 

•SRES 479 ATS 

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 


wwoods2 on PRODPC68 with BILLS
3 

•SRES 479 ATS 

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 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) recognizes the seriousness of the spread and 

3 threat of the human immunodeficiency virus and ac4 quired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) epi5 demic in American Indian and Alaska Native com6 munities; 

7 (2) encourages Federal, State, and tribal gov8 ernments as well as Indian organizations and health 

9 care providers to coordinate efforts in HIV/AIDS 

10 testing and in the promotion of prevention activities 

11 to further efforts in the reduction of HIV/AIDS in12 fection rates among American Indians and Alaska 

13 Natives; and 

14 (3) designates March 20, 2008, as ‘‘Second An15 nual National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day’’. 

Æ 


wwoods2 on PRODPC68 with BILLS