IV 
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 62 
Supporting the goals and ideals of ‘‘National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness 
Day’’. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 25, 2009 
Ms. LEE of California (for herself, Ms. WATERS, Mrs. CHRISTENSEN, Mr. 
MEEKS of New York, Mr. WAXMAN, Ms. EDWARDS of Maryland, Ms. 
JACKSON-LEE of Texas, Mr. TOWNS, Ms. WATSON, Mr. SERRANO, Mr. 
KUCINICH, Ms. BALDWIN, Mr. HASTINGS of Florida, Mr. CUMMINGS, Ms. 
MCCOLLUM, Ms. BORDALLO, Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia, Ms. KILPATRICK 
of Michigan, Mr. NADLER of New York, Mr. DAVIS of Illinois, Ms. 
CLARKE, Mr. BUTTERFIELD, Mr. PAYNE, and Ms. SCHAKOWSKY) sub-
mitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on Energy and Commerce 
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 
Supporting the goals and ideals of ‘‘National Black HIV/ 
AIDS Awareness Day’’. 
Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
(CDC) estimates that more than 1,100,000 people are 
currently living with HIV in the United States; 
Whereas the CDC estimates that 56,300 individuals were 
newly infected with HIV in 2006; 
Whereas the CDC estimates that in 2006 approximately 
232,700, or 21 percent of individuals with HIV were un-
aware that they were infected; 
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•HCON 62 IH 
Whereas the estimates by the CDC utilize a new methodology 
that has resulted in more accurate estimates of new in-
fections than the previous methodology; 
Whereas the new estimates of HIV infection rates are 40 per-
cent higher than previous estimates; 
Whereas African-Americans account for approximately 12 
percent of the population of the United States, but ac-
counted for 45 percent of new HIV infections in 2006; 
Whereas, of the estimated 18,849 people under the age of 25 
who were diagnosed with HIV between 2001 and 2005, 
more than 60 percent were African-American; 
Whereas young gay men of color bear a disproportionate bur-
den of the epidemic, with more new HIV infections in 
2006 occurring among 13 to 29 year old African-Amer-
ican men who have sex with men (MSM) than among any 
other subpopulation of MSM; 
Whereas in 2006, African-American women accounted for 61 
percent of new HIV infections among women and had an 
infection rate that was almost 15 times higher than that 
of White women; 
Whereas the CDC has determined that the leading cause of 
HIV infection among African-American men is sexual 
contact with other men, followed by intravenous drug use 
and heterosexual contact; 
Whereas the CDC has determined that the leading cause of 
HIV infection among African-American women is hetero-
sexual contact, followed by intravenous drug use; 
Whereas the Black AIDS Institute notes that there are more 
African-Americans living with HIV in the United States 
than there are people living with HIV in 7 out of the 15 
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•HCON 62 IH 
focus countries served by the President’s Emergency 
Plan for AIDS Relief; 
Whereas the CDC notes that socioeconomic issues impact the 
rates of HIV infection among African-Americans, and 
studies have found an association between higher AIDS 
rates and lower incomes; 
Whereas the rate of AIDS diagnoses for African-American 
adults and adolescents is 10 times higher than that of 
their White counterparts, and the rate of diagnoses for 
African-American women is nearly 23 times the rate for 
White women; 
Whereas African-Americans are diagnosed with AIDS later 
than their nonminority counterparts, are confronted with 
barriers in accessing care and treatment, and face higher 
morbidity and mortality outcomes; 
Whereas the CDC estimates that among persons who where 
diagnosed with AIDS during 1997 to 2004, African- 
Americans had the poorest survival rates of any racial or 
ethnic group, with 66 percent surviving after 9 years 
compared with 67 percent of American Indians and Alas-
ka Natives, 74 percent of Hispanics, 75 percent of 
Whites, and 81 percent of Asians and Pacific Islanders; 
Whereas in 2004, AIDS was among the top 4 causes of death 
for African-American men and women between the ages 
of 25 to 54, the number 2 cause of death for African- 
American men between the ages of 35 to 44, and the 
number 1 cause of death for African-American women 
between the ages 25 to 34; 
Whereas in 1998, Congress and the Clinton Administration 
created the National Minority AIDS Initiative to help co-
ordinate funding, build capacity, and provide prevention, 
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•HCON 62 IH 
care, and treatment services within the African-American, 
Hispanic, Asian Pacific Islander, and Native American 
communities; 
Whereas the National Minority AIDS Initiative assists with 
leadership development of community-based organizations 
(CBOs), establishes and links provider networks, builds 
community prevention infrastructure, promotes technical 
assistance among CBOs, and raises awareness among Af-
rican-American communities; 
Whereas, on February 23, 2001, the first annual ‘‘National 
Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day’’ was organized, with 
the slogan ‘‘Get Educated, Get Involved, Get Tested’’; 
and 
Whereas February 7 of each year is now recognized as ‘‘Na-
tional Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day’’ and this year 
the slogan is ‘‘Black Life is Worth Saving’’: Now, there-
fore, be it 
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), That Congress— 
(1) supports the goals and ideals of ‘‘National 
Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day’’ and recognizes 
the ninth anniversary of observing such 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, espe-
cially African-Americans, to get tested for HIV; 
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•HCON 62 IH 
(3) encourages national, State, and local media 
organizations to carry messages in support of ‘‘Na-
tional Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day’’; 
(4) supports the development of a national 
AIDS strategy with clear goals and objectives to re-
duce new HIV infections, especially among African- 
Americans, men who have sex with men, and other 
vulnerable communities; 
(5) supports the strengthening of stable Afri-
can-American communities; 
(6) supports reducing the impact of incarcer-
ation as a driver of new HIV infections within the 
African-American community; 
(7) supports reducing the number of HIV infec-
tions in the African-American community resulting 
from injection drug use; 
(8) supports effective and comprehensive HIV 
prevention education programs to promote the early 
identification of HIV through voluntary routine test-
ing, and to connect those in need to treatment and 
care as early as possible; and 
(9) supports appropriate funding for HIV/AIDS 
prevention, care, treatment, and housing. 
Æ 
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