[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 606 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
110th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. RES. 606
Designating June 27, 2008, as National HIV Testing Day.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
June 27, 2008
Mrs. Clinton submitted the following resolution; which was referred to
the Committee on the Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Designating June 27, 2008, as National HIV Testing Day.
Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (referred to in this
preamble as ``the CDC'') found that at the end of 2003, between
1,039,000 and 1,185,000 individuals in the United States were HIV
positive, an increase from the estimated 850,000 to 950,000 such
individuals at the end of 2002;
Whereas the CDC estimated that at the end of 2006, African-Americans represented
49 percent of all individuals living with HIV/AIDS, Whites represented
30 percent, and Hispanics represented 18 percent;
Whereas the CDC further found that at the end of 2006, men accounted for nearly
73 percent of all individuals living with HIV/AIDS and women represented
more than 26 percent;
Whereas the CDC estimated that from the beginning of the epidemic through 2006,
565,927 individuals in the United States have died of AIDS;
Whereas the CDC has determined that the leading cause of HIV infection is male-
to-male sexual contact, followed by heterosexual contact and injection
drug use;
Whereas the CDC has estimated that during the 10-year period beginning in 1998,
the rate of new infections in the United States has remained at
approximately 40,000 annually, with no decline;
Whereas individuals at high risk of acquiring HIV are also often at high risk of
acquiring other sexually transmitted infections;
Whereas a 2008 report from the CDC estimated that in the United States, 1 in 4
young women and nearly 1 in 2 young African-American women between the
ages of 14 and 19 have a sexually transmitted infection;
Whereas the CDC estimates that about 25 percent of all HIV-positive individuals
are unaware of their status;
Whereas the CDC reports that when infected individuals knew their status, they
were more likely to practice HIV risk-reduction behaviors;
Whereas the CDC reported that in 2005, 40 percent of those individuals diagnosed
as HIV-positive 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 individuals with medical care and services that
can reduce mortality and prevent the onset of AIDS;
Whereas a 2004 survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation found that many
individuals in the United States wanted more information about HIV,
including the different types of HIV tests available, testing costs,
test result confidentiality, and testing locations;
Whereas African-Americans and Latinos are much more likely than Whites to say
they need more information about HIV testing;
Whereas anxieties, misconceptions, and stigma have been traditionally associated
with HIV/AIDS and HIV testing;
Whereas the most commonly used HIV tests require a 2-week waiting period for a
diagnosis, and such a waiting period contributes to the anxiety
surrounding HIV testing that discourages individuals from receiving
their diagnosis;
Whereas the CDC estimated that in 2004, among those 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 Administration have made
HIV testing easier, more accessible, and less invasive, while delivering
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 producing individual behavioral change;
Whereas the National Association of People with AIDS, 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 introduced in 1995 and
produced by the National Association of People with AIDS to encourage
individuals to seek out and receive voluntary HIV counseling and
testing;
Whereas the theme of National HIV Testing Day 2008 is, ``Take the test, take
control'';
Whereas the Advancing HIV Prevention Initiative of the CDC emphasizes the
importance of HIV testing;
Whereas as part of its overall public health mission, the CDC annually supports
the National HIV Prevention Conference 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 Senate--
(1) designates June 27, 2008, as National HIV Testing Day;
(2) encourages State and local governments, including their
public health agencies, to recognize such a day, to publicize
its importance among their communities, to encourage
individuals to undergo counseling and testing for HIV and other
sexually transmitted infections, and to establish and maintain
effective linkages to care and treatment services for
individuals testing positive;
(3) encourages the appropriate use of rapid test kits
approved 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 National HIV
Testing Day;
(5) encourages the President to emphasize the importance of
addressing the HIV/AIDS epidemic among all individuals in the
United States, but especially among minority communities; and
(6) supports the development of a National AIDS strategy
with clear goals and objectives to reduce new HIV infections,
especially among minorities.
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