IV 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 439 

Supporting the goals and ideals of National Asian American and Pacific 

Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 14, 2009 

Ms. BORDALLO (for herself, Mr. HONDA, Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA, Mr. ABERCROMBIE, Ms. LEE of California, Mr. WU, Mr. GRIJALVA, Mr. AL GREEN

of Texas, Ms. MATSUI, Ms. HIRONO, Mr. CAO, and Mr. SABLAN) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 

Energy and Commerce 

RESOLUTION 

Supporting the goals and ideals of National Asian American 

and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. 

Whereas Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders constitute diverse communities that include over 50 different ethnic 

subgroups that speak over 100 languages and dialects; 

Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 

(CDC) estimates that over 8,232 AIDS cases have been 

diagnosed among Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders; 

Whereas the CDC has reported in its 02/10/06 Morbidity and 

Mortality Weekly Report that the estimated annual percentage changes in HIV/AIDS diagnosis rates were higher for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the 


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•HRES 439 IH 

United States than for any other racial/ethnic minority 

group with rates for men being 8.1 and for women 14.3; 

Whereas significant barriers remain for accessing culturally 

and linguistically competent services, especially HIV testing; 

Whereas with increasing rates of infection, Asian Americans 

and Pacific Islanders continue to have the lowest rates of 

accessing HIV testing (32.6 percent); 

Whereas the CDC estimates that almost 30 percent of Asian 

Americans and Pacific Islanders living with HIV/AIDS 

are unaware that they are infected with HIV; 

Whereas HIV/AIDS stigma and discrimination continues to 

be a growing problem in all communities, including the 

Asian American 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 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 and Pacific Islander 

communities; and 

Whereas, on May 19, 2009, community members from all racial/ethnic groups will come together in recognition of the 


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•HRES 439 IH 

fifth annual National Asian American 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 3,400 

5 Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders with AIDS in 

6 the United States who have died, as well as the 

7 3,160 Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who 

8 are still living with HIV/AIDS; 

9 (2) recognizes the importance of culturally and 

10 linguistically competent services as a core element in 

11 reducing HIV/AIDS rates in Asian American and 

12 Pacific Islander communities; 

13 (3) recognizes the importance of addressing the 

14 gaps in research and data in order to fully under15 stand the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Asian American 

16 and Pacific Islander communities; and 

17 (4) recognizes the people across the United 

18 States infected and affected by HIV/AIDS who are 

19 commemorating this day with community-wide ac20 tivities and who work to reduce the impact of HIV/ 

21 AIDS on Asian American and Pacific Islander com22 munities across the United States and the United 

23 States affiliated Pacific Island jurisdictions. 

Æ 


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