IV 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 585 

Supporting the goals and ideals of National HIV Testing Day, and for 

other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JUNE 25, 2009 

Ms. LEE of California (for herself, Mrs. CHRISTENSEN, Ms. NORTON, Ms. 

BALDWIN, Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD, Mr. HONDA, and Ms. WATERS) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 

Energy and Commerce 

RESOLUTION 

Supporting the goals and ideals of National HIV Testing 

Day, and for other purposes. 

Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 

(CDC) estimates that at the end of 2006 1,106,400 people were living with the human immunodeficiency virus 

(HIV) in the United States; 

Whereas the CDC estimates that a total of 583,298 people 

died of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in 

the United States from the beginning of the HIV/AIDS 

epidemic through 2007; 

Whereas the CDC estimates that there were 56,300 new 

cases of HIV infection in the United States during 2006; 


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Whereas current estimates by the CDC utilize a new methodology that results in more accurate estimates of new HIV 

infections; 

Whereas previous estimates by the CDC of HIV infection 

rates undercounted the rate of infection by 40 percent; 

Whereas the CDC estimates that at the end of 2006, AfricanAmericans represented 46 percent of all people living 

with HIV in the United States, Whites represented 35 

percent, Hispanics represented 18 percent, Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders represented 1 percent, and 

American Indians and Alaska Natives represented less 

than 1 percent; 

Whereas the CDC estimates that at the end of 2006, men accounted for 75 percent of all people living with HIV in 

the United States, and women represented 25 percent; 

Whereas the CDC has determined that in the United States 

the leading transmission category of HIV infection is 

male-to-male sexual contact, followed by heterosexual 

contact and injection drug use; 

Whereas men who have sex with men (MSM) have represented an increasing share of new HIV infections over 

the past decade, with 57 percent of all new infections in 

2006 occurring among MSM; 

Whereas young MSM of color, in particular, bear a disproportionate burden of the HIV/AIDS epidemic; 

Whereas the CDC estimates that in 2006, of the people in 

the United States living with HIV, approximately 

232,700 (or 21 percent) were unaware that they were infected; 

Whereas surveys indicate that many Americans want more 

information about HIV, including information about the 


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different types of tests available, testing costs, test result 

confidentiality, and testing locations; 

Whereas African-Americans and Hispanics are much more 

likely than Whites to say they need more information 

about HIV testing; 

Whereas studies have found that Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders are less likely to report having sought HIV 

testing than other ethnic groups, are more likely to be diagnosed at a later stage of the disease, and are less likely, if diagnosed, to use HIV/AIDS services; 

Whereas people at high risk of acquiring HIV are often at 

high risk of acquiring other sexually transmitted diseases 

as well; 

Whereas in 2008, the CDC estimated that 1 in 4 young 

women between the ages of 14 and 19 in the United 

States and nearly 1 in 2 African-American young women 

in the United States were infected with at least 1 of the 

4 most common sexually transmitted diseases; 

Whereas the CDC reports that when HIV-infected people 

know their status, they are more likely to practice behaviors that reduce the risk of HIV transmission to other 

people; 

Whereas the CDC estimates that in 2006, of the people diagnosed as HIV-positive, 38 percent were later diagnosed 

with AIDS within 1 year of their HIV test; 

Whereas the CDC reports that early knowledge of HIV status 

is important for connecting HIV-positive people with 

medical care and services that can reduce mortality and 

prevent the onset of AIDS; 

Whereas anxiety, misconception, and stigma have been traditionally associated with HIV/AIDS and HIV testing; 


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Whereas the most commonly used HIV tests currently require 

a 2-week waiting period for a diagnosis, and such a waiting period contributes to the anxiety surrounding HIV 

testing that discourages people from receiving their diagnosis; 

Whereas the CDC estimated that in 2004, of the people who 

took an HIV test at sites funded by the CDC, 22 percent 

did not return for their test results; 

Whereas rapid test kits approved by the Food and Drug Administration have made HIV testing easier, more accessible, and less invasive, and can deliver results within a 

single day; 

Whereas prevention counseling is an essential part of HIV 

testing and, when conducted according to established 

CDC guidelines, has been shown to be effective at producing individual behavioral change; 

Whereas the CDC’s ‘‘Advancing HIV Prevention Initiative: 

New Strategies for a Changing Epidemic’’, announced in 

April 2003, emphasizes the importance of HIV testing; 

Whereas in September 2006, the CDC released ‘‘Revised Recommendations for HIV Testing of Adults, Adolescents, 

and Pregnant Women in Health-Care Settings’’, which 

advises all health care providers in the public and private 

sectors to provide routine HIV screening of adults, adolescents, and pregnant women in health care settings in 

the United States, and recommends reducing barriers to 

HIV testing; 

Whereas in March 2007, the CDC, in partnership with leaders in the African-American community, launched a 

‘‘Heightened National Response to the HIV/AIDS Crisis 

among African Americans’’ to mobilize a coordinated reVerDate Nov 24 2008 22:34 Jun 27, 2009 Jkt 079200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR585.IH HR585

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sponse to HIV/AIDS in the African-American community 

and, as part of this effort, announced a new initiative to 

increase HIV testing in jurisdictions with the highest 

AIDS case rates among African-Americans; 

Whereas, on April 7, 2009, the CDC launched a new communication campaign, ‘‘Act Against AIDS’’, to facilitate 

awareness, public education, health literacy, health care 

provider marketing, and highly targeted behavior change 

communication objectives in the fight against HIV/AIDS; 

Whereas the initial phase of the ‘‘Act Against AIDS’’ campaign, entitled ‘‘91⁄2 Minutes’’, is an effort to combat 

complacency about the HIV crisis in the United States 

and raise awareness of the continued severity of the HIV/ 

AIDS epidemic and the fact that every 91⁄2 minutes, on 

average, someone in the United States is infected with 

HIV; 

Whereas despite these efforts, the CDC has noted that ‘‘new 

strategies are warranted to increase HIV testing, particularly among persons who are disproportionately affected 

by HIV infection’’; 

Whereas the National Association of People with AIDS 

(NAPWA), founded in 1983, is the oldest coalition of 

people living with HIV/AIDS, and advocates on behalf of 

all people living with HIV/AIDS; 

Whereas National HIV Testing Day is an annual campaign 

that was introduced in 1995 by NAPWA to encourage individuals to seek out and receive voluntary HIV counseling and testing; 

Whereas the theme of National HIV Testing Day 2009 is 

‘‘Take the test, take control’’; 


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Whereas as part of its overall public health mission, the CDC 

annually supports the National HIV Prevention Conference and National HIV Testing Day; and 

Whereas June 27 of each year is now recognized as National 

HIV Testing Day: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) supports the goals and ideals of National 

3 HIV Testing Day; 

4 (2) encourages State and local governments, in5 cluding their public health agencies, to recognize 

6 such day, to publicize its importance among their 

7 communities, and to encourage individuals to under8 go counseling and testing for HIV and other sexu9 ally transmitted diseases; 

10 (3) encourages the use of rapid test kits ap11 proved by the Food and Drug Administration as a 

12 fast and efficient method of HIV testing; 

13 (4) encourages national, State, and local media 

14 organizations to carry messages in support of Na15 tional HIV Testing Day; 

16 (5) commends the President for emphasizing 

17 the importance of addressing the HIV/AIDS epi18 demic among all Americans; and 

19 (6) supports the development of a National 

20 AIDS Strategy with clear goals and objectives to reVerDate Nov 24 2008 22:34 Jun 27, 2009 Jkt 079200 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HR585.IH HR585

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1 duce new HIV infections, especially among minority 

2 communities and men who have sex with men. 

Æ 


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