IV 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 592 

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

and Awareness Day, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JUNE 26, 2009 

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

HASTINGS of Florida, Ms. BORDALLO, Mr. GRIJALVA, Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. LEWIS of Georgia, Mr. MASSA, Ms. KILROY, 

Mr. TOWNS, and Mr. DAVIS of Illinois) 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 28 years ago; 

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

HIV/AIDS in the United States today; 

Whereas there are approximately 56,000 new HIV infections 

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

year in the United States; 


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•HRES 592 IH 

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; 

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; 


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•HRES 592 IH 

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 

Tuesday, July 21, 2009, to be the second 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; 

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 second 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 demVerDate Nov 24 2008 06:36 Jun 27, 2009 Jkt 079200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR592.IH HR592

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•HRES 592 IH 

onstrating 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 second 

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; 

9 (3) encourages the media to observe the second 

10 annual National Clinicians HIV/AIDS Testing and 

11 Awareness Day by educating clinicians about the im12 portant role they play in providing access to HIV/ 

13 AIDS awareness, testing, treatment, and referral 

14 services and by educating clinicians and the public 

15 about the benefits of HIV testing; and 


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1 (4) encourages individuals to get tested for HIV 

2 and educate themselves about the prevention and 

3 treatment of HIV/AIDS. 

Æ 


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