House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

In the near future, I intend to introduce a resolution recognizing February 7, 2013, as “National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day” in Pennsylvania. African Americans are disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, more than 510, 000 Blacks are currently living with HIV/AIDS in the United States.

Blacks have the highest rates of new HIV infections and new AIDS diagnoses of any racial and ethnic group. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2009, African Americans comprised 14% of the United States population, but 44% of all new HIV infections. In addition, the rate of new AIDS diagnoses per 100,000 for Blacks in 2010 was about 10 times that of whites.

National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day spearheaded by the Healthy Black Communities (HBC), a national nonprofit organization, attempts to decrease and ultimately eradicate HIV/AIDS in the Black community by utilizing a four point strategy including: education, testing, involvement, and treatment. February 7, 2013 marks the 13^th year for National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.