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[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 426 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]

        H.Con.Res.426
                                               Agreed to October 2, 2008

                       One Hundred Tenth Congress

                                 of the

                        United States of America

                          AT THE SECOND SESSION

          Begun and held at the City of Washington on Thursday,
            the third day of January, two thousand and eight

                          Concurrent Resolution

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.
Attest:

                                 Clerk of the House of Representatives.

Attest:

                                               Secretary of the Senate.
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