[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 586 Introduced in House (IH)]
113th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. RES. 586
Supporting the goals and ideals of National Asian and Pacific Islander
HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 19, 2014
Ms. Bordallo (for herself, Ms. Chu, Mr. Faleomavaega, Mr. Grijalva, Mr.
Honda, Ms. Lee of California, Mr. Lowenthal, Mr. Pierluisi, Mr. Peters
of California, Mr. Rangel, Mr. Schiff, Mr. Smith of Washington, Ms.
Speier, Mr. Takano, Ms. Linda T. Sanchez of California, Ms. Moore, and
Ms. Roybal-Allard) submitted the following resolution; which was
referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Supporting the goals and ideals of National Asian and Pacific Islander
HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.
Whereas Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders are the largest
growing group in the United States and constitute diverse communities
including over 50 different ethnic sub-groups speaking over 100
languages and dialects;
Whereas from 2010 to 2011 the number of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and
Pacific Islanders who have been diagnosed with HIV has increased at
least 20 percent;
Whereas Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders have the
highest percentage of individuals who have never been tested for HIV;
Whereas in 2012, 7 in 10 Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander
adults have never been tested for HIV;
Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that in
2011, 1 in 4 Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders
living with HIV/AIDS are unaware they are infected with HIV;
Whereas the proportion of Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders with late HIV
diagnoses (AIDS diagnoses within one year of HIV diagnosis) in 2010 was
the highest of all races and ethnicities in the United States and
dependent areas, 45 percent of Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders
developed AIDS within 12 months after a diagnosis of HIV infection,
compared with 38 percent of American Indians/Alaska Natives diagnosed
with HIV, 36 percent of Hispanics/Latinos, 35 percent of Asians, 32
percent of Whites, and 31 percent of Blacks/African-Americans;
Whereas the CDC estimates that over 9,672 AIDS cases have been diagnosed among
Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders through 2011;
Whereas significant barriers remain for accessing culturally and linguistically
competent services, especially HIV testing;
Whereas HIV/AIDS stigma and discrimination continues to be a growing problem in
all communities, including the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, 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 National HIV/AIDS Strategy released in July 2010 established the
three primary goals of reducing HIV incidence, increasing access to
care, and optimizing health outcomes and reducing HIV-related health
disparities, including specific strategies focused on Asian American,
Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander populations, such as targeted and
disaggregated surveillance and stigma prevention efforts and
interventions targeted to the men who have sex with men community;
Whereas the development of the Minority AIDS Initiative in 1998 to coordinate
funding, capacity building, and prevention, 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 competent HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and
treatment services, developed community capacity and infrastructure,
promoted technical assistance and resources, and raised awareness among
Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities; and
Whereas, on May 19, 2014, community members from all ethnic groups will come
together in recognition of the ninth annual National Asian and Pacific
Islander 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 Awareness Day in order to honor the
memory of the 3,488 Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and
Pacific Islanders with AIDS in the United States who have died,
as well as the estimated 10,583 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, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific
Islander communities;
(3) recognizes the importance of addressing the gaps in
research and data in order to fully understand the HIV/AIDS
epidemic in Asian American, Native Hawaiian, 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 activities and who work to reduce the impact of
HIV/AIDS on Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific
Islander communities across the United States and the United
States affiliated Pacific Island jurisdictions.
<all>