HRES 1478 IH 
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 Pa-
cific Islanders are less likely to report having sought HIV 
testing than other ethnic groups, are more likely to be di-
agnosed at a later stage of the disease, and are less like-
ly, 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 behav-
iors that reduce the risk of HIV transmission to other 
people; 
Whereas the CDC estimates that in 2006, of the people diag-
nosed 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 tradi-
tionally associated with HIV/AIDS and HIV testing; 
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HRES 1478 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 1478 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 is ‘‘Take 
the test, take control’’; 
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HRES 1478 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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