IV 

110TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. CON. RES. 280 

Supporting the goals and ideals of ‘‘National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness 

Day’’. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JANUARY 16, 2008 

Ms. LEE (for herself, Mr. MEEKS of New York, Mrs. CHRISTENSEN, Ms. WATERS, Ms. KILPATRICK, Mr. WAXMAN, Ms. NORTON, Ms. BALDWIN, Ms. 

CORRINE BROWN of Florida, Mr. RUSH, Ms. BORDALLO, Mr. LEWIS of 

Georgia, Mr. MCDERMOTT, Mr. CUMMINGS, Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin, 

and Mr. DAVIS of Illinois) submitted the following concurrent resolution; 

which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 

Supporting the goals and ideals of ‘‘National Black HIV/ 

AIDS Awareness Day’’. 

Whereas the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the United States has 

shifted primarily to the African-American community and 

other communities of color; 

Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 

(‘‘CDC’’) has stated that, at the end of 2005, over 

188,000 African-Americans were living with AIDS, representing 44 percent of all cases in the United States; 

Whereas since the beginning of the epidemic, African-Americans have accounted for nearly 400,000 or 42 percent of 

the estimated 953,000 AIDS cases diagnosed, and 


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•HCON 280 IH 

through December 2005, an estimated 211,559 AfricanAmericans with AIDS have died; 

Whereas the CDC has further stated that, in 2005, AfricanAmericans accounted for nearly 50 percent of all new 

HIV infections, despite representing only about 12.3 percent of the population (according to the 2000 Census); 

Whereas the CDC estimates that, in 2005, African-American 

women accounted for over 66 percent of all HIV/AIDS 

cases among women, and were 25 times more likely to be 

infected than White women; 

Whereas the CDC estimates that of the over 18,800 people 

under the age of 25 whose diagnosis of HIV/AIDS was 

made during 2001 and 2004, 61 percent were AfricanAmerican; 

Whereas the CDC estimates that 73 percent of all children 

born to HIV-infected mothers in 2004 were AfricanAmerican; 

Whereas the CDC has determined that the leading cause of 

HIV infection among African-American men is sexual 

contact with other men, followed by intravenous drug use 

and heterosexual contact; 

Whereas the CDC has determined that the leading cause of 

HIV infection among African-American women is heterosexual contact, followed by intravenous drug use; 

Whereas in 2002, AIDS was among the top 3 causes of death 

for African-American men in the age group 25 through 

54, among the top 4 causes of death for African-American women in the age group 25 through 54, and the 

number one cause of death for African-American women 

aged 25 to 34 years; 


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Whereas the CDC estimates that, since 1996, African-Americans have the poorest survival rates of any racial or ethnic group diagnosed with AIDS, with 64 percent surviving after 9 years compared to 65 percent of American 

Indians and Alaska Natives, 72 percent of Hispanics, 74 

percent of Whites, and 81 percent of Asian Pacific Islanders; 

Whereas African-Americans are diagnosed with AIDS later 

than nonminority counterparts, are confronted with barriers in accessing care and treatment, and face higher 

morbidity and mortality outcomes; 

Whereas in 1998, the Congress and the Clinton Administration created the National Minority AIDS Initiative to 

help coordinate funding, build capacity, and provide prevention, care, and treatment services within the AfricanAmerican, Hispanic, Asian Pacific Islander, and Native 

American communities; 

Whereas the Minority AIDS Initiative assists with leadership 

development of community-based organizations 

(‘‘CBOs’’), establishes and links provider networks, builds 

community prevention infrastructure, promotes technical 

assistance among CBOs, and raises awareness among African-American communities; 

Whereas on February 23, 2001, the first annual ‘‘National 

Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day’’ was organized, with 

the slogan ‘‘Get Educated, Get Involved, Get Tested’’; 

and 

Whereas February 7 of each year is now recognized as ‘‘National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day’’: Now, therefore, 

be it 


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1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 

2 concurring), That the Congress— 

3 (1) supports the goals and ideals of ‘‘National 

4 Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day’’ and recognizes 

5 the eighth anniversary of observing such day; 

6 (2) encourages State and local governments, in7 cluding their public health agencies, to recognize 

8 such day, to publicize its importance among their 

9 communities, and to encourage individuals, espe10 cially African-American individuals, to undergo test11 ing for HIV; 

12 (3) encourages national, State, and local media 

13 organizations to carry messages in support of ‘‘Na14 tional Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day’’; 

15 (4) supports full and equitable funding for the 

16 Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Modernization 

17 Act of 2006; 

18 (5) applauds the codification of the Minority 

19 AIDS Initiative within the reauthorization of the 

20 Ryan White CARE Act; 

21 (6) supports the development of a national 

22 AIDS plan with clear goals and objectives to reduce 

23 new HIV infections, especially among the African24 American community and other communities of 

25 color; 


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1 (7) supports appropriate funding for HIV/AIDS 

2 prevention and treatment; 

3 (8) supports the strengthening of stable Afri4 can-American communities; 

5 (9) supports reducing the impact of incarcer6 ation as a driver of new HIV infections within the 

7 African-American community; 

8 (10) supports effective and comprehensive HIV 

9 prevention education programs to promote the early 

10 identification of HIV through voluntary routine test11 ing, and to connect those in need to treatment and 

12 care as early as possible; 

13 (11) supports reducing the number of HIV in14 fections in the African-American community result15 ing from injection drug use; and 

16 (12) supports efforts to link those infected with 

17 HIV to accessible care and treatment options. 

Æ 


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