IV 
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 439 
Supporting the goals and ideals of National Asian American and Pacific 
Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 14, 2009 
Ms. BORDALLO (for herself, Mr. HONDA, Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA, Mr. ABER-
CROMBIE, Ms. LEE of California, Mr. WU, Mr. GRIJALVA, Mr. AL GREEN 
of Texas, Ms. MATSUI, Ms. HIRONO, Mr. CAO, and Mr. SABLAN) sub-
mitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
Energy and Commerce 
RESOLUTION 
Supporting the goals and ideals of National Asian American 
and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. 
Whereas Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders constitute di-
verse communities that include over 50 different ethnic 
subgroups that speak over 100 languages and dialects; 
Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
(CDC) estimates that over 8,232 AIDS cases have been 
diagnosed among Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders; 
Whereas the CDC has reported in its 02/10/06 Morbidity and 
Mortality Weekly Report that the estimated annual per-
centage changes in HIV/AIDS diagnosis rates were high-
er for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the 
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•HRES 439 IH 
United States than for any other racial/ethnic minority 
group with rates for men being 8.1 and for women 14.3; 
Whereas significant barriers remain for accessing culturally 
and linguistically competent services, especially HIV test-
ing; 
Whereas with increasing rates of infection, Asian Americans 
and Pacific Islanders continue to have the lowest rates of 
accessing HIV testing (32.6 percent); 
Whereas the CDC estimates that almost 30 percent of Asian 
Americans and Pacific Islanders living with HIV/AIDS 
are unaware that they are infected with HIV; 
Whereas HIV/AIDS stigma and discrimination continues to 
be a growing problem in all communities, including the 
Asian American and Pacific Islander community; 
Whereas HIV/AIDS stigma and discrimination increases risk- 
taking behavior and prevents people from accessing the 
HIV/AIDS services and support they need; 
Whereas the development of the Minority AIDS Initiative in 
1998 to coordinate funding, capacity building and pre-
vention, care, and treatment services within African- 
American, Hispanic, Asian American, Pacific Islander, 
and Native American communities has assisted with the 
development of leadership in minority community-based 
organizations, provided culturally and linguistically com-
petent HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and treatment serv-
ices, developed community capacity and infrastructure, 
promoted technical assistance and resources, and raised 
awareness among Asian American and Pacific Islander 
communities; and 
Whereas, on May 19, 2009, community members from all ra-
cial/ethnic groups will come together in recognition of the 
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•HRES 439 IH 
fifth annual National Asian American and Pacific Is-
lander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) supports the observance of National Asian 
American and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Aware-
ness Day in order to honor the memory of the 3,400 
Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders with AIDS in 
the United States who have died, as well as the 
3,160 Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who 
are still living with HIV/AIDS; 
(2) recognizes the importance of culturally and 
linguistically competent services as a core element in 
reducing HIV/AIDS rates in Asian American and 
Pacific Islander communities; 
(3) recognizes the importance of addressing the 
gaps in research and data in order to fully under-
stand the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Asian American 
and Pacific Islander communities; and 
(4) recognizes the people across the United 
States infected and affected by HIV/AIDS who are 
commemorating this day with community-wide ac-
tivities and who work to reduce the impact of HIV/ 
AIDS on Asian American and Pacific Islander com-
munities across the United States and the United 
States affiliated Pacific Island jurisdictions. 
Æ 
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