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[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 426 Received in Senate (RDS)]

  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 426

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

           September 29 (legislative day, September 17), 2008

                                Received

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 
 Recognizing the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Minority 
                            AIDS Initiative.

Whereas the Minority AIDS Initiative was established on October 28, 1998, under 
        the leadership of the Congressional Black Caucus, to target funds for 
        the awareness, prevention, testing, and treatment of HIV/AIDS toward 
        racial and ethnic minority communities and toward community-based 
        organizations and health care providers serving these communities;
Whereas HIV/AIDS is a devastating epidemic that continues to spread in 
        communities throughout the United States;
Whereas there are more than 1,000,000 people living with HIV/AIDS in the United 
        States today;
Whereas there are more than 14,000 AIDS-related deaths every year in the United 
        States;
Whereas approximately 1 in 4 of the people living with HIV/AIDS in the United 
        States do not know they are infected;
Whereas racial and ethnic minorities are disproportionately impacted by HIV/
        AIDS;
Whereas African-Americans account for about half of new AIDS cases, although 
        approximately 13 percent of the population as a whole is Black, and the 
        Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that African-
        Americans accounted for 45 percent of new HIV infections in 2006;
Whereas Hispanic-Americans account for 19 percent of new AIDS cases, although 
        only 15 percent of the population as a whole is Hispanic, and the CDC 
        estimates that Hispanic-Americans accounted for 17 percent of new HIV 
        infections in 2006;
Whereas Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders account for 1 percent of new AIDS 
        cases, and Native Americans and Alaskan Natives account for up to 1 
        percent of new AIDS cases;
Whereas approximately 70 percent of new AIDS cases are racial and ethnic 
        minorities;
Whereas the CDC recently released new estimates of HIV infection, which indicate 
        that approximately 56,300 new HIV infections occurred in the United 
        States in 2006;
Whereas these new estimates are approximately 40 percent higher than the CDC's 
        previous estimates of 40,000 new infections per year;
Whereas the CDC's data confirms that the most severe impact continues to be 
        among gay and bisexual men of all races, and Black men and women;
Whereas the purpose of the Minority AIDS Initiative is to enable community based 
        organizations and health care providers in minority communities to 
        improve their capacity to deliver culturally and linguistically 
        appropriate HIV/AIDS care and services;
Whereas concerned Members of Congress, including members of the Congressional 
        Black Caucus, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, the Congressional Asian 
        Pacific American Caucus, and the Congressional Hispanic Conference, 
        continue to support the Minority AIDS Initiative;
Whereas the Minority AIDS Initiative continues to provide funding to community-
        based organizations, research institutions, minority-serving colleges 
        and universities, health care organizations, State and local health 
        departments, correctional institutions, and other providers of health 
        information and services to help such entities address the HIV/AIDS 
        epidemic within the minority populations they serve;
Whereas Congress codified the Minority AIDS Initiative within the most recent 
        reauthorization of the Ryan White CARE Act;
Whereas the Minority AIDS Initiative fills gaps in HIV/AIDS outreach, awareness, 
        prevention, treatment, surveillance, and infrastructure across 
        communities of color; and
Whereas, October 28, 2008, is the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the 
        Minority AIDS Initiative: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That the Congress--
            (1) recognizes and commemorates the 10th anniversary of the 
        establishment of the Minority AIDS Initiative;
            (2) commends the efforts of community-based organizations 
        and health care providers in minority communities to deliver 
        culturally and linguistically appropriate HIV/AIDS care and 
        services within the minority populations they serve;
            (3) encourages racial and ethnic minorities and all 
        Americans to educate themselves about the prevention and 
        treatment of HIV/AIDS and reduce HIV related stigma;
            (4) encourages the Centers for Disease Control and 
        Prevention to appropriately address populations significantly 
        impacted by HIV/AIDS not only through the Minority AIDS 
        Initiative, but through all available programs; and
            (5) supports the continuing efforts of the Minority AIDS 
        Initiative to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS and urges effective, 
        compassionate treatment and care to individuals affected by 
        HIV/AIDS.

            Passed the House of Representatives September 27, 2008.

            Attest:

                                            LORRAINE C. MILLER,

                                                                 Clerk.
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