IV 

111TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 1547 

Supporting the goals and ideals of National Clinicians HIV/AIDS Testing 

and Awareness Day, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JULY 21, 2010 

Ms. WATERS (for herself, Mrs. CHRISTENSEN, Ms. LEE of California, Mr. 

MEEKS of New York, Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD, Ms. BORDALLO, Mr. FRANK

of Massachusetts, Mr. RUSH, Mr. HASTINGS of Florida, Mr. CAPUANO, 

Mr. CLAY, Mr. BUTTERFIELD, Ms. NORTON, Ms. JACKSON LEE of 

Texas, Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida, Ms. RICHARDSON, Mr. PAYNE, 

Mr. MCDERMOTT, Mr. FILNER, Mr. HONDA, Mr. BACA, Ms. MOORE of 

Wisconsin, Mr. GRIJALVA, Mr. COHEN, and Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ) 

submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 

on Energy and Commerce 

RESOLUTION 

Supporting the goals and ideals of National Clinicians HIV/ 

AIDS Testing and Awareness Day, and for other purposes. 

Whereas HIV/AIDS is a devastating epidemic that continues 

to spread in communities throughout the United States; 

Whereas approximately 1,700,000 people in the United 

States have been infected by HIV/AIDS since the first 

cases were reported 29 years ago; 

Whereas there are approximately 1,100,000 people living with 

HIV/AIDS in the United States today; 


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•HRES 1547 IH 

Whereas there are approximately 56,000 new HIV infections 

and more than 14,000 new AIDS-related deaths every 

year in the United States; 

Whereas every 91⁄2 minutes another person in the United 

States becomes infected with HIV; 

Whereas President Barack Obama released the National 

HIV/AIDS Strategy on July 13, 2010, in order to 

refocus attention on the domestic HIV/AIDS epidemic; 

Whereas the National HIV/AIDS Strategy focuses on three 

major goals, including reducing the number of new HIV 

infections, increasing access to care and improving health 

outcomes for people living with HIV and AIDS, and reducing HIV-related health disparities; 

Whereas HIV/AIDS is spreading rapidly among women, 

young people, and racial minorities, all of which are demographic groups that were not considered to be at significant risk of HIV infection during the early years of 

the epidemic; 

Whereas women account for 27 percent of new AIDS cases 

in the United States, and teen girls account for 39 percent of new AIDS cases among teenagers; 

Whereas African-Americans account for about half of new 

AIDS cases, although only 12 percent of the population 

as a whole is Black; 

Whereas Hispanic-Americans account for 19 percent of new 

AIDS cases, although only 15 percent of the population 

as a whole is Hispanic; 

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; 


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•HRES 1547 IH 

Whereas African-American women account for 65 percent of 

new AIDS cases among women; 

Whereas 71 percent of new AIDS cases are people of color; 

Whereas about 21 percent of the people living with HIV/ 

AIDS in the United States do not know they are infected; 

Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s 

guidelines for HIV screening in healthcare settings recommend routine HIV testing for all patients between the 

ages of 13 and 64, regardless of risk factors; 

Whereas individuals are more likely to act responsibly and 

protect themselves and other persons in the community 

when they know their HIV status; 

Whereas encouraging people to be tested for HIV is a critical 

element in HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment efforts; 

Whereas individuals who are HIV-positive must learn their 

status in order to obtain counseling on managing their 

health, access appropriate medical and social services, 

begin life-prolonging treatment, and take actions to avoid 

spreading the virus to others; 

Whereas physicians, physician’s assistants, nurses, dentists, 

and other clinicians play a vital role in providing access 

to HIV/AIDS awareness, testing, treatment, and referral 

services, and in encouraging patients to get tested for 

HIV; 

Whereas Howard University College of Medicine has declared 

Wednesday, July 21, 2010, to be the third annual National Clinicians HIV/AIDS Testing and Awareness Day 

in an effort to encourage clinicians nationwide to become 

actively involved in HIV/AIDS awareness, testing, treatment, and referral services; 


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•HRES 1547 IH 

Whereas a diverse group of organizations representing communities affected by HIV/AIDS have partnered with 

Howard University College of Medicine to promote the 

goals and ideals of National Clinicians HIV/AIDS Testing and Awareness Day; 

Whereas the third annual National Clinicians HIV/AIDS 

Testing and Awareness Day will give all physicians, physician assistants, nurses, dentists, and other clinicians an 

opportunity to get personally involved in the fight against 

HIV/AIDS by taking an HIV test, personally demonstrating the importance as well as the ease of HIV 

testing; 

Whereas the National Clinicians HIV/AIDS Testing and 

Awareness Day will be a call to action to clinicians nationwide to lead the way in dispelling the myths and stigma associated with HIV testing and become vocal advocates for patients and communities; and 

Whereas the National Clinicians HIV/AIDS Testing and 

Awareness Day will encourage clinicians to become actively involved in HIV/AIDS awareness, testing, treatment, and referral services: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) supports the goals and ideals of the third 

3 annual National Clinicians HIV/AIDS Testing and 

4 Awareness Day; 

5 (2) encourages primary care physicians and 

6 other clinicians nationwide to become actively in7 volved in HIV/AIDS awareness, testing, treatment, 

8 and referral services; 


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•HRES 1547 IH 

1 (3) encourages the media to observe the third 

2 annual National Clinicians HIV/AIDS Testing and 

3 Awareness Day by educating clinicians about the im4 portant role they play in providing access to HIV/ 

5 AIDS awareness, testing, treatment, and referral 

6 services and by educating clinicians and the public 

7 about the benefits of HIV testing; and 

8 (4) encourages individuals to get tested for HIV 

9 and educate themselves about the prevention and 

10 treatment of HIV/AIDS. 

Æ 


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