IV 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 504 
Supporting the goals and ideals of National Clinicians HIV/AIDS Testing 
and Awareness Day, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 18, 2019 
Ms. WATERS (for herself, Ms. LEE of California, Ms. NORTON, Mr. DEUTCH, 
Mr. RUSH, Mr. SEAN PATRICK MALONEY of New York, Mr. PAYNE, Mr. 
COX of California, Mr. NADLER, Mr. HASTINGS, Mr. COHEN, Ms. KELLY 
of Illinois, Ms. VELA´ZQUEZ, Mr. CARSON of Indiana, Mr. CISNEROS, Mr. 
DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois, Mr. MEEKS, Mrs. AXNE, Ms. JOHNSON of 
Texas, Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia, Ms. TITUS, Mr. CUMMINGS, Mr. 
GARCI´A of Illinois, and Mr. SMITH of Washington) submitted the fol-
lowing 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 more than 1,800,000 people in the United States 
have been infected by HIV/AIDS since the first cases 
were reported 38 years ago; 
Whereas there are more than 1,100,000 people living with 
HIV/AIDS in the United States today; 
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•HRES 504 IH 
Whereas, every year in the United States, there are more 
than 38,500 new HIV infections; 
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 re-
ducing HIV-related health disparities; 
Whereas HIV/AIDS is spreading rapidly among women, 
young people, and racial minorities, all of which are de-
mographic groups that were not considered to be at sig-
nificant risk of HIV infection during the early years of 
the epidemic; 
Whereas African Americans account for 43 percent of new 
HIV diagnoses, although only 12 percent of the popu-
lation as a whole is Black; 
Whereas Hispanic Americans account for 26 percent of new 
HIV diagnoses, although only 18 percent of the popu-
lation as a whole is Hispanic; 
Whereas Asian Americans account for 2 percent of new HIV 
diagnoses, and American Indians/Alaska Natives, Native 
Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders, and individuals of multiple 
races together account for an additional 3 percent; 
Whereas African-American women account for 59 percent of 
new HIV diagnoses among women; 
Whereas people of color account for 74 percent of new HIV 
diagnoses; 
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•HRES 504 IH 
Whereas about 15 percent of the people living with HIV/ 
AIDS in the United States do not know they are in-
fected; 
Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s 
guidelines for HIV screening in health care settings rec-
ommend 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 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 
July 21, 2019, to be the twelfth annual National Clini-
cians HIV/AIDS Testing and Awareness Day in an effort 
to encourage clinicians nationwide to become actively in-
volved in HIV/AIDS awareness, testing, treatment, and 
referral services; 
Whereas a diverse group of organizations representing com-
munities affected by HIV/AIDS have partnered with 
Howard University College of Medicine to promote the 
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•HRES 504 IH 
goals and ideals of National Clinicians HIV/AIDS Test-
ing and Awareness Day; 
Whereas the National Clinicians HIV/AIDS Testing and 
Awareness Day will give all physicians, physician assist-
ants, 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 im-
portance 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 na-
tionwide to lead the way in dispelling the myths and stig-
ma associated with HIV testing and become vocal advo-
cates for patients and communities; and 
Whereas the National Clinicians HIV/AIDS Testing and 
Awareness Day will encourage clinicians to become ac-
tively involved in HIV/AIDS awareness, testing, treat-
ment, and referral services: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) supports the goals and ideals of the Na-
tional Clinicians HIV/AIDS Testing and Awareness 
Day; 
(2) encourages primary care physicians and 
other clinicians nationwide to become actively in-
volved in HIV/AIDS awareness, testing, treatment, 
and referral services; 
(3) encourages the media to observe the Na-
tional Clinicians HIV/AIDS Testing and Awareness 
Day by educating clinicians about the important role 
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•HRES 504 IH 
they play in providing access to HIV/AIDS aware-
ness, testing, treatment, and referral services and by 
educating clinicians and the public about the bene-
fits of HIV testing; and 
(4) encourages individuals to get tested for HIV 
and educate themselves about the prevention and 
treatment of HIV/AIDS. 
Æ 
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