•HRES 585 IH 
Whereas the most commonly used HIV tests currently require 
a 2-week waiting period for a diagnosis, and such a wait-
ing period contributes to the anxiety surrounding HIV 
testing that discourages people from receiving their diag-
nosis; 
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 Ad-
ministration have made HIV testing easier, more acces-
sible, 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 pro-
ducing 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 Rec-
ommendations 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, ado-
lescents, 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 lead-
ers in the African-American community, launched a 
‘‘Heightened National Response to the HIV/AIDS Crisis 
among African Americans’’ to mobilize a coordinated re-
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•HRES 585 IH 
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 commu-
nication 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’’ cam-
paign, 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, particu-
larly 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 in-
dividuals to seek out and receive voluntary HIV coun-
seling and testing; 
Whereas the theme of National HIV Testing Day 2009 is 
‘‘Take the test, take control’’; 
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•HRES 585 IH 
Whereas as part of its overall public health mission, the CDC 
annually supports the National HIV Prevention Con-
ference and National HIV Testing Day; and 
Whereas June 27 of each year is now recognized as National 
HIV Testing Day: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) supports the goals and ideals of National 
HIV Testing Day; 
(2) encourages State and local governments, in-
cluding their public health agencies, to recognize 
such day, to publicize its importance among their 
communities, and to encourage individuals to under-
go counseling and testing for HIV and other sexu-
ally transmitted diseases; 
(3) encourages the use of rapid test kits ap-
proved by the Food and Drug Administration as a 
fast and efficient method of HIV testing; 
(4) encourages national, State, and local media 
organizations to carry messages in support of Na-
tional HIV Testing Day; 
(5) commends the President for emphasizing 
the importance of addressing the HIV/AIDS epi-
demic among all Americans; and 
(6) supports the development of a National 
AIDS Strategy with clear goals and objectives to re-
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duce new HIV infections, especially among minority 
communities and men who have sex with men. 
Æ 
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