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 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 risk-taking 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 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 African-American, 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 That the House of Representatives— (1) supports the observance of National Asian American and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day in order to honor the memory of the 3,542 Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders with AIDS in the United States who have died, as well as the estimated 9,317 Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who are still living with HIV/AIDS; (2) recognizes the importance of culturally and linguistically competent services as a core element in reducing HIV/AIDS rates in Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities; (3) recognizes the importance of addressing the gaps in research and data in order to fully understand the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities; and (4) recognizes the people across the United States infected and affected by HIV/AIDS who are commemorating this day with community-wide activities and who work to reduce the impact of HIV/AIDS on Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities across the United States and the United States affiliated Pacific Island jurisdictions.

Summary: Expresses support for the observance of National Asian American and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. Recognizes the importance of: (1) culturally and linguistically competent services as a core element in reducing HIV/AIDS rates in Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities; and (2) addressing the gaps in research and data in order to fully understand the HIV/AIDS epidemic in such communities.Recognizes the people across the United States infected and affected by HIV/AIDS who are commemorating this day and who work to reduce the impact of HIV/AIDS on Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities.