THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY HUGHES, WASHINGTON, KITCHEN, STOUT, DINNIMAN, FONTANA, FARNESE, PILEGGI, WOZNIAK, O'PAKE, BRUBAKER AND ALLOWAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2010

INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, FEBRUARY 1, 2010  

A RESOLUTION

Supporting "National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day" on February

7, 2010, in Pennsylvania.

WHEREAS, The mission of "National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness

Day" is to build awareness, participation and support for HIV

prevention, care, testing and treatment among African Americans;

and

WHEREAS, The primary goal of "National Black HIV/AIDS

Awareness Day" is to motivate African Americans to get tested

and know their HIV status, get educated about the transmission

modes of HIV/AIDS, get involved in their local communities and

get treated if they are currently living with HIV or are newly

diagnosed; and

WHEREAS, More than 2,000 organizations in more than 800

cities across the United States plan to participate in "National

Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day" this year; and

WHEREAS, "National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day" is directed,

planned and organized by a working group of national

organizations in partnership with the Centers for Disease

Control and Prevention to mobilize communities and address

specific issues in regard to local epidemics and best practices

that are science-based and will influence the course of HIV in

African-American communities across the United States; and

WHEREAS, Today, nearly seven in ten new AIDS cases occur

among African Americans; and

WHEREAS, African Americans make up just 13% of this nation's

population, yet more than half, or 55%, of all AIDS deaths occur

among African Americans; and

WHEREAS, "National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day" is a

national call to increase awareness of the threat and impact of

HIV/AIDS on the African-American community; and

WHEREAS, It is fitting that we join with national and local

groups to express our strong support for "National Black

HIV/AIDS Awareness Day" and the initiatives to prevent the

spread of HIV/AIDS in African-American communities and provide

treatment and support services to those living with HIV/AIDS;

therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate support "National Black HIV/AIDS

Awareness Day" in Pennsylvania on February 7, 2010, and urge all

citizens to strongly support this day and participate in events

planned to commemorate the occasion.