IV 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 649 
Supporting the goals and ideals of National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness 
Day. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 17, 2021 
Ms. LEE of California (for herself, Miss GONZA´LEZ-COLO´N, Mrs. CAROLYN B. 
MALONEY of New York, Ms. SALAZAR, Mr. DEUTCH, Mr. DANNY K. 
DAVIS of Illinois, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Mr. FITZPATRICK, Mr. RUSH, Mr. 
CICILLINE, Mr. TONKO, Ms. DEAN, Ms. SEWELL, Mr. SOTO, Mr. 
QUIGLEY, Ms. WILLIAMS of Georgia, Mr. JONES, Ms. CRAIG, Ms. 
BARRAGA´N, and Mr. MCGOVERN) submitted the following resolution; 
which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
RESOLUTION 
Supporting the goals and ideals of National HIV/AIDS and 
Aging Awareness Day. 
Whereas National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day is a 
nationwide observance that brings attention to the grow-
ing number of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) 
who are living long and full lives, to their health, and to 
their social needs; 
Whereas, more than 40 years into the epidemic, the Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that in the 
United States there are more than 1,200,000 PLWHA, 
and every year approximately 40,000 people acquire HIV/ 
AIDS; 
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•HRES 649 IH 
Whereas over half of PLWHA in the United States and de-
pendent areas are individuals who are someone aged 50 
or older; 
Whereas, globally, there are 5,700,000 PLWHA aged 50 and 
older; 
Whereas, in the United States, one in six of every new HIV 
diagnosis is of someone aged 50 and over; 
Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention re-
ports over 100,000 PLWHA are over the age of 65 now 
in the United States, and this trend of the aging of the 
HIV population increases every year and it’s projected 
that by 2030 75 percent of PLWHA in the United States 
will be over the age of 50; 
Whereas research indicates that older Americans are more 
likely than younger Americans to be diagnosed with HIV 
late in the course of their disease progression, and are 
more likely to be diagnosed with advanced HIV or AIDS; 
Whereas the Department of Health and Human Services re-
ports that those people living with HIV/AIDS for many 
years can exhibit clinical characteristics observed in 
aging, including multiple chronic diseases or coexisting 
conditions, the use of multiple medications, changes in 
physical and cognitive abilities, and increased vulner-
ability to stressors; 
Whereas PLWHA contract comorbidities on average earlier 
in age, sometimes by as much as 15 years, and at higher 
rates by 2 to 5 times; 
Whereas comorbidities may include heart disease, kidney dis-
ease, bone disease, cancers, cognitive dysfunction, and 
mental and physical impairment or disability; 
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•HRES 649 IH 
Whereas recent studies report reduced life expectancy and 
greater mortality rates for older PLWHA, African Ameri-
cans, and women with HIV have higher rates of 
comorbidities and risk for mortality; and 
Whereas September 18 of each year is now recognized as Na-
tional HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day: Now, there-
fore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) supports the goals and ideals of National 
HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day; 
(2) encourages Tribal, Territorial, State, and 
local governments, including their public health 
agencies, geriatric providers and professionals, State 
units on aging, area agencies on aging, and media 
organizations, to recognize and support such a day; 
(3) supports the right of older PLWHA to edu-
cation, prevention, treatment, and care, and to live 
without criminalization, discrimination, oppression, 
and stigma; 
(4) supports increased services and access to 
health care and treatment for PLWHA, particularly 
women and older people among the estimated over 
400,000 PLWHA who are not in care or virally sup-
pressed; 
(5) supports sound policymaking based on the 
premise of Treatment as Prevention or ‘‘U=U’’; 
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(6) supports removal of HIV/AIDS laws that 
are scientifically inaccurate and unfairly criminalize 
older PLWHA for behaviors that are consensual or 
have no risk of transmission; 
(7) urges age-friendly and accessible health care 
services, especially access to medications such as 
preexposure prophylaxis, postexposure prophylaxis, 
and antiretroviral therapy, without regard to age— 
(A) to better provide for the early identi-
fication of HIV/AIDS through voluntary routine 
testing of people of all ages; and 
(B) to connect those in need to clinically 
and culturally appropriate care and treatment 
as early as possible; 
(8) supports the increase of funding for pro-
grams that support people impacted by and living 
with HIV/AIDS, including the Ryan White HIV/ 
AIDS program, the Medicaid program, AIDS Drug 
Assistance programs, the Centers for Disease Con-
trol and Prevention’s National Center for HIV/ 
AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention 
program, the Housing Opportunities for Persons 
With AIDS program, and programs that support 
older PLWHA, including by— 
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•HRES 649 IH 
(A) educating communities on testing and 
treatment options for PLWHA; 
(B) helping PLWHA to access preexposure 
prophylaxis; and 
(C) supporting increased services and ac-
cess to health care and treatment for PLWHA, 
particularly older people, who are among the es-
timated 400,000 PLWHA who are not in care 
or virally suppressed; 
(9) recognizes that the current HIV health care 
system does not meet the needs of the aging (older 
than 50 years old) and elderly (older than 65 years 
old) PLWHA population and must be reconfigured 
and expanded; 
(10) supports the expansion to provide patient- 
centered care that meets the needs of the aging and 
elderly population through incorporating systems 
and geriatric elements and of care through HIV clin-
ics and its systems of care; and 
(11) recommends a comprehensive prevention 
and treatment strategy that empowers older people, 
public health workers, geriatric providers and profes-
sionals, faith leaders, and other stakeholders to— 
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