Title: Supporting the goals and ideals of National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day.
Policy area: Health

Summary:
This resolution supports the goals and ideals of National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day.

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1370 Introduced in House (IH)]

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117th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1370

    Supporting the goals and ideals of National HIV/AIDS and Aging 
                             Awareness Day.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 19, 2022

   Ms. Lee of California (for herself, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Mrs. 
 Carolyn B. Maloney of New York, Mr. Quigley, Mr. Tonko, Mr. Soto, Ms. 
  Bush, and Ms. Davids of Kansas) 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 growing number of people living long and 
        full lives with HIV/AIDS 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 people living with HIV/AIDS, and every year approximately 
        40,000 people acquire HIV/AIDS;
Whereas over half of people living with HIV/AIDS in the United States and 
        dependent areas are individuals who are aged 50 and over;
Whereas globally, there are 5,700,000 people living with HIV/AIDS aged 50 and 
        older;
Whereas in the United States, one in six of every new HIV diagnosis is of an 
        individual aged 50 and over;
Whereas research indicates that older people in the United States are more 
        likely than younger individuals in the United States to be diagnosed 
        with HIV late in the course of their disease, meaning such older people 
        are more likely to be dually diagnosed with HIV and AIDS;
Whereas the Department of Health and Human Services reports that people living 
        with HIV 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 vulnerability to stressors; and
Whereas September 18 of each year is recognized as National HIV/AIDS and Aging 
        Awareness Day: Now, therefore, 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, State, territorial, and local 
        governments, including their public health agencies, geriatric 
        providers and professionals, social service providers, State 
        units on aging, area agencies on aging, and media organizations 
        to recognize and support such a day;
            (3) supports the right of older people to HIV education, 
        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 people living with HIV, particularly older 
        people, who are among the estimated 400,000 people living with 
        HIV/AIDS who are not in care or virally suppressed;
            (5) supports sound policymaking based on the premise of 
        Treatment as Prevention (TasP) or Undetectable=Untransmittable, 
        or U=U;
            (6) supports the repeal of HIV laws and policies that are 
        scientifically inaccurate and unfairly criminalize older people 
        living with HIV for behaviors that are consensual or have no 
        risk of transmissions;
            (7) urges age-friendly and accessible health care services, 
        especially access to HIV testing and antiretroviral therapy 
        without regard to age, to better provide for the early 
        identification of HIV among people of all ages, and to connect 
        those in need of clinically and culturally appropriate care and 
        treatment as early as possible;
            (8) supports the increase of funding for programs that 
        support older people impacted by and living with HIV/AIDS, 
        including the HIV Health Care Services Program under title XXVI 
        of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300ff-11 et seq.) 
        (commonly referred to as the Ryan White HIV/AIDS program), the 
        Medicaid program under title XIX of the Social Security Act (42 
        U.S.C. 1396 et seq.), the National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral 
        Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention Program of the Centers for 
        Disease Control and Prevention, Housing Opportunities for 
        Persons With AIDS program under the AIDS Housing Opportunity 
        Act (42 U.S.C. 12901 et seq.), and programs that support older 
        people living with HIV/AIDS, including by--
                    (A) educating communities on testing and treatment 
                options for older people living with HIV/AIDS; and
                    (B) helping older people to access preexposure 
                prophylaxis and postexposure prophylaxis to prevent 
                acquisition of HIV; and
            (9) recommends a comprehensive HIV prevention and treatment 
        strategy that empowers older people, public health workers, 
        social service providers, geriatric providers and 
        professionals, faith leaders, and other stakeholders to fully 
        engage with their communities and families to improve the 
        quality of life and health for older people living with HIV/
        AIDS, to--
                    (A) help decrease violence, discrimination, and 
                stigma toward individuals who disclose their sexual 
                orientation or HIV status; and
                    (B) provide them the services and supports they 
                need as they age.
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