III 

110TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 606 

Designating June 27, 2008, as National HIV Testing Day. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JUNE 27, 2008 

Mrs. CLINTON submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on the Judiciary 

RESOLUTION 

Designating June 27, 2008, as National HIV Testing Day. 

Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (referred to in this preamble as ‘‘the CDC’’) found that at 

the end of 2003, between 1,039,000 and 1,185,000 individuals in the United States were HIV positive, an increase from the estimated 850,000 to 950,000 such individuals at the end of 2002; 

Whereas the CDC estimated that at the end of 2006, African-Americans represented 49 percent of all individuals 

living with HIV/AIDS, Whites represented 30 percent, 

and Hispanics represented 18 percent; 

Whereas the CDC further found that at the end of 2006, 

men accounted for nearly 73 percent of all individuals living with HIV/AIDS and women represented more than 

26 percent; 


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•SRES 606 IS 

Whereas the CDC estimated that from the beginning of the 

epidemic through 2006, 565,927 individuals in the 

United States have died of AIDS; 

Whereas the CDC has determined that the leading cause of 

HIV infection is male-to-male sexual contact, followed by 

heterosexual contact and injection drug use; 

Whereas the CDC has estimated that during the 10-year period beginning in 1998, the rate of new infections in the 

United States has remained at approximately 40,000 annually, with no decline; 

Whereas individuals at high risk of acquiring HIV are also 

often at high risk of acquiring other sexually transmitted 

infections; 

Whereas a 2008 report from the CDC estimated that in the 

United States, 1 in 4 young women and nearly 1 in 2 

young African-American women between the ages of 14 

and 19 have a sexually transmitted infection; 

Whereas the CDC estimates that about 25 percent of all 

HIV-positive individuals are unaware of their status; 

Whereas the CDC reports that when infected individuals 

knew their status, they were more likely to practice HIV 

risk-reduction behaviors; 

Whereas the CDC reported that in 2005, 40 percent of those 

individuals diagnosed as HIV-positive were later diagnosed with AIDS within 1 year of their HIV test; 

Whereas the CDC reports that early knowledge of HIV status 

is important for connecting HIV-positive individuals with 

medical care and services that can reduce mortality and 

prevent the onset of AIDS; 


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•SRES 606 IS 

Whereas a 2004 survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation 

found that many individuals in the United States wanted 

more information about HIV, including the different 

types of HIV tests available, testing costs, test result 

confidentiality, and testing locations; 

Whereas African-Americans and Latinos are much more likely than Whites to say they need more information about 

HIV testing; 

Whereas anxieties, misconceptions, and stigma have been traditionally associated with HIV/AIDS and HIV testing; 

Whereas the most commonly used HIV tests require a 2-week 

waiting period for a diagnosis, and such a waiting period 

contributes to the anxiety surrounding HIV testing that 

discourages individuals from receiving their diagnosis; 

Whereas the CDC estimated that in 2004, among those who 

took an HIV test at sites funded by the CDC, 22 percent 

did not return for their test results; 

Whereas rapid test kits approved by the Food and Drug Administration have made HIV testing easier, more accessible, and less invasive, while delivering results within a 

single day; 

Whereas prevention counseling is an essential part of HIV 

testing, and when conducted according to established 

CDC guidelines, has been shown to be effective at producing individual behavioral change; 

Whereas the National Association of People with AIDS, 

founded in 1983, is the oldest coalition of people living 

with HIV/AIDS, and advocates on behalf of all people living with HIV/AIDS; 

Whereas National HIV Testing Day is an annual campaign 

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ciation of People with AIDS to encourage individuals to 

seek out and receive voluntary HIV counseling and testing; 

Whereas the theme of National HIV Testing Day 2008 is, 

‘‘Take the test, take control’’; 

Whereas the Advancing HIV Prevention Initiative of the 

CDC emphasizes the importance of HIV testing; 

Whereas as part of its overall public health mission, the CDC 

annually supports the National HIV Prevention Conference and National HIV Testing Day; and 

Whereas June 27 of each year is now recognized as National 

HIV Testing Day: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) designates June 27, 2008, as National HIV 

3 Testing Day; 

4 (2) encourages State and local governments, in5 cluding their public health agencies, to recognize 

6 such a day, to publicize its importance among their 

7 communities, to encourage individuals to undergo 

8 counseling and testing for HIV and other sexually 

9 transmitted infections, and to establish and maintain 

10 effective linkages to care and treatment services for 

11 individuals testing positive; 

12 (3) encourages the appropriate use of rapid test 

13 kits approved by the Food and Drug Administration 

14 as a fast and efficient method of HIV testing; 


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1 (4) encourages National, State, and local media 

2 organizations to carry messages in support of Na3 tional HIV Testing Day; 

4 (5) encourages the President to emphasize the 

5 importance of addressing the HIV/AIDS epidemic 

6 among all individuals in the United States, but espe7 cially among minority communities; and 

8 (6) supports the development of a National 

9 AIDS strategy with clear goals and objectives to re10 duce new HIV infections, especially among minori11 ties. 

Æ 


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