IV 

110TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 169 

Supporting the goals and ideals of National HIV Testing Day, and for 

other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JUNE 14, 2007 

Ms. LEE (for herself and Ms. WATERS) submitted the following concurrent 

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 

Supporting the goals and ideals of National HIV Testing 

Day, and for other purposes. 

Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has 

stated that, at the end of 2003, between 1,039,000 and 

1,185,000 people nationwide were HIV positive, an increase from the estimated 850,000 to 950,000 people at 

the end of 2002; 

Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that at the end of 2005, African Americans represented 47 percent of all individuals living with HIV/ 

AIDS, Whites represented 34 percent, and Hispanics 

represented 17 percent; 

Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has 

further stated that at the end of 2005, men accounted 


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•HCON 169 IH 

for nearly 74 percent of all individuals living with HIV/ 

AIDS, and women represented over 26 percent; 

Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that through 2005 over 555,000 have died of 

AIDS since the beginning of the epidemic; 

Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has 

determined that the leading cause of HIV infection is 

men having sex with men, followed by heterosexual contact and injection drug use; 

Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that approximately 40,000 people become infected 

with HIV each year; 

Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that about 25 percent of all HIV-positive individuals are unaware of their status; 

Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that when infected persons knew their status, they 

were more likely to practice HIV risk-reduction behaviors; 

Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that in 2005, 40 percent of those diagnosed as HIV 

positive were later diagnosed with AIDS within one year 

of their HIV test; 

Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that early knowledge of status is important for linking those who are HIV positive with medical care and 

services that can reduce mortality and prevent the onset 

of AIDS; 

Whereas a 2004 survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation 

found that many Americans, particularly African AmeriVerDate Aug 31 2005 06:55 Jun 15, 2007 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HC169.IH HC169

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•HCON 169 IH 

cans and Latinos, wanted 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 currently require 

a two-week waiting period for a diagnosis, and such waiting period contributes to the anxiety surrounding HIV 

testing that discourages individuals from receiving their 

diagnosis, leading the Centers for Disease Control and 

Prevention to conclude that in 2000 among those who 

tested positive at sites funded by the Centers for Disease 

Control and Prevention, 31 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 counseling is an essential part of HIV testing, and 

when conducted according to established Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, has been shown 

to be effective at producing individual behavior change; 

Whereas the National Association of People with AIDS, 

founded in 1983, is the oldest coalition of people living 

with HIV/AIDS in the world, and the Association advocates on behalf of all people living with HIV/AIDS; 

Whereas National HIV Testing Day is an annual campaign 

introduced in 1995 and produced by the National Association of People with AIDS to encourage at-risk individuals to seek out and receive voluntary HIV counseling 

and testing; 


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•HCON 169 IH 

Whereas the theme of National HIV Testing Day 2007 is 

‘‘Take the test, take control’’; 

Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s 

‘‘Advancing HIV Prevention Initiative’’ emphasizes the 

importance of HIV testing; 

Whereas as part of its overall public health mission, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 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 by the House of Representatives (the Senate 

2 concurring), That the Congress— 

3 (1) supports the goals and ideals of National 

4 HIV/AIDS Testing Day; 

5 (2) encourages State and local governments, in6 cluding their public health agencies, to recognize 

7 such day, to publicize its importance among their 

8 communities, and to encourage individuals to under9 go counseling and testing for HIV; 

10 (3) encourages the use of rapid test kits ap11 proved by the Food and Drug Administration as a 

12 fast and efficient method of HIV testing; 

13 (4) encourages national, State, and local media 

14 organizations to carry messages in support of Na15 tional HIV Testing Day; and 


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•HCON 169 IH 

1 (5) encourages the President to emphasize the 

2 importance of addressing the HIV/AIDS epidemic 

3 among all Americans, but especially among minority 

4 groups. 

Æ 


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