Bill Text: IL HR0100 | 2019-2020 | 101st General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Declares February 7, 2019 as National African-American HIV/AIDS Awareness Day in the State of Illinois.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-07-02 - Rule 19(b) / Re-referred to Rules Committee [HR0100 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2019-HR0100-Introduced.html

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HR0100 LRB101 07939 MST 52994 r
HOUSE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, February 7, 2019 is the 18th 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 46.8% of people
living with HIV, although they represent just 12% of the United
States population; and
WHEREAS, Illinois has witnessed HIV infections drop by 35%
over the last decade, however, nearly 43,000 residents of
Illinois are still living with HIV (including the undiagnosed);
the Black community continues to be disproportionally impacted
by the epidemic; Black gay men are experiencing an increase in

HR0100 - 2 - LRB101 07939 MST 52994 r
HIV cases, particularly among youth; Black woman account for
more than 73% of women who are newly diagnosed and women who
are living with HIV; and
WHEREAS, Nearly 43,000 residents of Illinois are living
with HIV (including the undiagnosed), and 52% 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

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WHEREAS, HIV medication taken daily (Pre-Exposure
Prophylaxis or PrEP) is nearly 100% effective at preventing HIV
infection when used consistently and correctly and creates the
opportunity to dramatically reduce HIV infections in the Black
community, but awareness of PrEP and access to PrEP is low in
the Black community for those who could potentially benefit
from PrEP, based on the CDC guidelines; only 1% of PrEP users
are Black; 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

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prevention, treatment, and support services to those affected
by HIV/AIDS; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
we declare February 7, 2019 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.