THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY WHEATLEY, BRADFORD, BUXTON, CALTAGIRONE, D. COSTA, DeLUCA, GOODMAN, HESS, HORNAMAN, JOHNSON, JOSEPHS, KIRKLAND, KORTZ, KULA, LONGIETTI, MAJOR, MANN, MILLARD, MIRABITO, PAYTON, PRESTON, READSHAW, REICHLEY, SCAVELLO, STABACK, STURLA, WATERS, WILLIAMS AND YOUNGBLOOD, JANUARY 19, 2011

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, JANUARY 19, 2011  

A RESOLUTION

Recognizing February 7, 2011, as "National Black HIV/AIDS

Awareness Day" in Pennsylvania.

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

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

epidemic level among African Americans; and

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

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

is, by far, African Americans; and

WHEREAS, Among diseases that disproportionately affect

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

and

WHEREAS, Even though African Americans comprise approximately

13% of the United States population, they account for roughly

one-half of the estimated new HIV/AIDS diagnoses in the United

States each year; and

WHEREAS, In 2008, African Americans accounted for 11% of this

Commonwealth's population, but 52% of new HIV/AIDS diagnoses;

and

WHEREAS, More African-American children have been afflicted

with HIV/AIDS than children from all other races and

ethnicities; and

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

Americans; and

WHEREAS, The survival rate for African Americans diagnosed

with HIV/AIDS is consistently lower than most other racial or

ethnic groups, particularly 48 months after diagnosis; and

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

Day"; and

WHEREAS, This annual observance was created to raise

awareness among African Americans about HIV/AIDS and its

devastating impact on African-American communities; and

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

encourage African Americans to learn more about the threat posed

by the disease, obtain testing and treatment and make a

commitment to fight HIV/AIDS; and

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

this disease; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize

February 7, 2011, as "National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day" in

Pennsylvania to ensure that the residents of this Commonwealth

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

American community.