IV 

113TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 219 

Supporting the goals and ideals of National Asian and Pacific Islander HIV/ 

AIDS Awareness Day. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 17, 2013 

Ms. BORDALLO (for herself, Mr. BERA of California, Mrs. CHRISTENSEN, Ms. 

CHU, Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA, Mr. GRIJALVA, Mr. HIMES, Ms. LEE of California, Mr. LOWENTHAL, Ms. MCCOLLUM, Mr. PETERS of California, Mr. 

PIERLUISI, Mr. RANGEL, Mr. SABLAN, Mr. SMITH of Washington, Ms. 

SPEIER, and Mr. TAKANO) submitted the following resolution; which was 

referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 

RESOLUTION 

Supporting the goals and ideals of National Asian and 

Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. 

Whereas Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders are the largest growing group in the United 

States and constitute diverse communities including over 

50 different ethnic sub-groups speaking over 100 languages and dialects; 

Whereas from 2009 to 2010 the number of Asian Americans, 

Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders who have been 

diagnosed with HIV has increased at least 50 percent; 

Whereas analysis of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data has revealed that Asian Americans and 

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•HRES 219 IH 

Pacific Islanders were the only ethnic groups with a statistically significant increase in new HIV diagnoses (4.4 

percent) between 2001 and 2008; 

Whereas Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders have the highest number of individuals who have 

never been tested for HIV; 

Whereas 6 out of 10 Asian Americans and 7 out of 10 Native 

Hawaiian/Pacific Islanders have never been tested for 

HIV; 

Whereas the CDC estimates that 1 in 3 Asian Americans, 

Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders living with HIV/ 

AIDS are unaware they are infected with HIV; 

Whereas 37 percent of HIV diagnoses among Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders progressed 

to AIDS in less than 12 months; 

Whereas the CDC estimates that over 9,000 AIDS cases have 

been diagnosed among Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders; 

Whereas significant barriers remain for accessing culturally 

and linguistically competent services, especially HIV testing; 

Whereas HIV/AIDS stigma and discrimination continues to 

be a growing problem in all communities, including the 

Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander 

community; 

Whereas HIV/AIDS stigma and discrimination increases risktaking behavior and prevents people from accessing the 

HIV/AIDS services and support they need; 

Whereas the National HIV/AIDS Strategy released in July 

2010 established the three primary goals of reducing 

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HIV incidence, increasing access to care, and optimizing 

health outcomes and reducing HIV-related health disparities, including specific strategies focused on Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander populations, 

such as targeted and disaggregated surveillance and stigma prevention efforts and interventions targeted to the 

men who have sex with men community; 

Whereas the development of the Minority AIDS Initiative in 

1998 to coordinate funding, capacity building, and prevention, care, and treatment services within AfricanAmerican, Hispanic, Asian American, Pacific Islander, 

and Native American communities has assisted with the 

development of leadership in minority community-based 

organizations, provided culturally and linguistically competent HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and treatment services, developed community capacity and infrastructure, 

promoted technical assistance and resources, and raised 

awareness among Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and 

Pacific Islander communities; and 

Whereas on May 19, 2013, community members from all ethnic groups will come together in recognition of the ninth 

annual National Asian and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS 

Awareness Day: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) supports the observance of National Asian 

3 American and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Aware4 ness Day in order to honor the memory of the 3,542 

5 Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Is6 landers with AIDS in the United States who have 

7 died, as well as the estimated 9,317 Asian Amerimstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with BILLS

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1 cans and Pacific Islanders who are still living with 

2 HIV/AIDS; 

3 (2) recognizes the importance of culturally and 

4 linguistically competent services as a core element in 

5 reducing HIV/AIDS rates in Asian American, Native 

6 Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities; 

7 (3) recognizes the importance of addressing the 

8 gaps in research and data in order to fully under9 stand the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Asian American, 

10 Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities; 

11 and 

12 (4) recognizes the people across the United 

13 States infected and affected by HIV/AIDS who are 

14 commemorating this day with community-wide ac15 tivities and who work to reduce the impact of HIV/ 

16 AIDS on Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pa17 cific Islander communities across the United States 

18 and the United States affiliated Pacific Island juris19 dictions. 

Æ 

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