HR0128 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0128 LRB099 07229 MST 27329 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, February 7, 2015 is the fourteenth annual commemoration and observance of National African-American HIV/AIDS Awareness Day; and

WHEREAS, This observance is a nationwide effort to mobilize African-American communities to get educated, tested, involved, and treated for HIV/AIDS, as it continues to devastate African-American communities; and

WHEREAS, National African-American HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is directed, planned, and strategically implemented by HIV/AIDS organizations to mobilize community-based organizations and stakeholders involved in HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and treatment; and

WHEREAS, African-Americans account for 44% of people living with HIV, although they represent just 12% of the United States population; and

WHEREAS, Nearly 43,000 residents of Illinois are living with HIV (including the undiagnosed) and 51% of people newly diagnosed with HIV are African-American; and

WHEREAS, Young African-American gay men under the age of 30 in Chicago have an infection rate three times greater than their white counterparts; and

WHEREAS, At the current rate of infection, nationally 1 in 4 gay African-American men will become HIV-positive by the time they are 25, and 1 in 2 will have HIV by the time they are 35; and

WHEREAS, Of those African-Americans that are HIV-positive, fewer than half are prescribed antiretroviral therapy (HIV medication), and just 37% reach viral suppression; and

WHEREAS, Over two-thirds of women diagnosed with HIV in the United States are African-American; Center for Disease Control data reports that by race/ethnicity, African-American transgender women have the highest percentage of new HIV positive test results; and

WHEREAS, HIV medications taken daily (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis or PrEP) have a greater than 90% chance of preventing HIV infection in people who are HIV-negative, but awareness of PrEP and access to PrEP is low in the most vulnerable communities; and

WHEREAS, The Illinois General Assembly and administration failed to transfer money to the African-American American HIV/AIDS Response Fund resulting in an inability to make grants to organizations focused on fighting the epidemic in the African-American community; and

WHEREAS, Numerous organizations, faith-based institutions, public health entities, and impacted citizens are hosting community events to recognize this day and its importance to African-Americans and all concerned citizens; and

WHEREAS, It is fitting that we join with these local, national, and international groups to express our strong support for National African-American HIV/AIDS Awareness Day and the initiatives to prevent HIV/AIDS in African-American communities and provide access to and utilization of HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, and support services to those affected by HIV/AIDS; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we designate February 7, 2015 as National African-American HIV/AIDS Awareness Day in Illinois, and encourage local residents to strongly support this day and participate in events planned to commemorate the occasion.