THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY WHEATLEY, BROWN, BEYER, CALTAGIRONE, COHEN,

DePASQUALE, DiGIROLAMO, EACHUS, D. EVANS, FRANKEL, FREEMAN,

GEIST, GIBBONS, GINGRICH, GOODMAN, GRUCELA, HELM, HENNESSEY,

HORNAMAN, KIRKLAND, KORTZ, KOTIK, KULA, LONGIETTI, MAHONEY,

MAJOR, MANN, MARKOSEK, McCALL, McILVAINE SMITH, MILLARD,

M. O'BRIEN, PALLONE, PARKER, PAYNE, PAYTON, PRESTON,

READSHAW, ROEBUCK, ROSS, SAINATO, SANTONI, SCAVELLO, SEIP,

SIPTROTH, STURLA, SWANGER, R. TAYLOR, VULAKOVICH, WALKO,

WATERS AND YOUNGBLOOD, FEBRUARY 4, 2009

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,

FEBRUARY 4, 2009  

A RESOLUTION

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Recognizing February 7, 2009, as "National Black HIV/AIDS

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Awareness Day" in Pennsylvania.

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WHEREAS, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

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reports that the devastating effect of HIV/AIDS has reached an

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epidemic level among African Americans; and

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WHEREAS, At every stage, from HIV diagnosis through the death

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of persons with AIDS, the most affected racial or ethnic group

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is, by far, African Americans; and

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WHEREAS, Among diseases that disproportionately affect

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African Americans, HIV/AIDS has a particularly damaging effect;

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and

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WHEREAS, Even though African Americans comprise approximately

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13% of the United States population, one-half of the estimated

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new HIV/AIDS diagnoses in the United States in 2005 were for

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African Americans; and

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WHEREAS, More African-American children have been afflicted

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with HIV/AIDS than children from all other races and ethnicities

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combined; and

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WHEREAS, AIDS has become a leading cause of death for African

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Americans; and

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WHEREAS, African Americans with AIDS do not live as long as

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people in other racial or ethnic groups who have AIDS; and

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WHEREAS, Between 2001 and 2005, HIV/AIDS was the number one

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cause of death for African-American women 25 to 34 years of age;

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and

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WHEREAS, February 7 is "National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness

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Day"; and

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WHEREAS, This annual observance was created to raise

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awareness among African Americans about HIV/AIDS and its

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devastating impact on African-American communities; and

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WHEREAS, The day is part of a national mobilization effort to

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encourage African Americans to learn more about the threat posed

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by the disease, obtain testing and treatment and make a

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commitment to fight HIV/AIDS; and

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WHEREAS, Awareness is a vital step in stopping the spread of

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this disease; therefore be it

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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize

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February 7, 2009, as "National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day" in

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Pennsylvania to ensure that the residents of this Commonwealth

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are aware of the destructive effect of HIV/AIDS on the African-

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American community.