| PRINTER'S NO. 2885 |
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No. | 609 | Session of 2014 |
INTRODUCED BY WHEATLEY, KORTZ, KOTIK, ENGLISH, YOUNGBLOOD, KIRKLAND, SCHLOSSBERG, COHEN, HENNESSEY, MILLARD, THOMAS, BISHOP, KINSEY, GIBBONS, FREEMAN, MAJOR, KIM, VEREB, BROWNLEE, V. BROWN, O'BRIEN, KAVULICH, READSHAW, MIRABITO, CLAY, ROEBUCK, PARKER, MCCARTER, GROVE, DENLINGER, GOODMAN, FRANKEL AND GINGRICH, JANUARY 15, 2014
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, JANUARY 15, 2014
A RESOLUTION
1Recognizing February 7, 2014, as "National Black HIV/AIDS
2Awareness Day" in Pennsylvania.
3WHEREAS, According to the Centers for Disease Control and
4Prevention (CDC), HIV/AIDS affect African Americans at alarming
5rates; and
6WHEREAS, Of all the racial and ethnic groups present within
7the United States, African Americans are the most affected by
8HIV/AIDS; and
9WHEREAS, In 2010, African Americans comprised 13% of the
10United States population and 44% of all new HIV infections; and
11WHEREAS, In 2011, African-American males had almost 7.8 times
12the AIDS rate as Caucasian males and African-American males are
137 times as likely to die from HIV/AIDS as Non-Hispanic Caucasian
14males; and
15WHEREAS, In 2011, African-American females had 23 times the
1AIDS rate as Caucasian females and African-American females are
215 times as likely to die from HIV/AIDS as Non-Hispanic
3Caucasian females; and
4WHEREAS, In 2011, African Americans were 8.6 times more
5likely to be diagnosed with HIV infection, as compared to the
6Caucasian population; and
7WHEREAS, National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day seeks to
8educate African Americans about this devastating disease through
9a platform emphasizing four main points: education, testing,
10involvement and treatment; and
11WHEREAS, National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day began in 2000
12as five organizations worked collectively to assist in the
13effort to decrease and ultimately eradicate HIV/AIDS in the
14African-American community; and
15WHEREAS, The five organizations included: Concerned Black
16Men, Inc., of Philadelphia, Health Watch Information and
17Promotion Services, Inc., Jackson State University - Mississippi
18Urban Research Center, National Black Alcoholism and Addictions
19Council and National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS; and
20WHEREAS, Healthy Black Communities (HBC) will serve as the
21leading organization ensuring the initiative is carried out
22annually; and
23WHEREAS, HBC maintains an active Internet presence promoting
24awareness of the importance of educating communities on the
25effects of HIV/AIDS; and
26WHEREAS, It is imperative that African Americans educate
27themselves and their communities on the effects of HIV/AIDS; and
28WHEREAS, African Americans should be tested to learn their
29HIV/AIDS status because education and early detection are
30critical in saving lives; therefore be it
1RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize
2February 7, 2014, as "National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day" in
3Pennsylvania; and be it further
4RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives annually
5recognize "National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day" to increase
6education, promote inclusion and emphasize the importance of
7testing and HIV/AIDS treatment.