[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 649 Introduced in House (IH)]
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117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 649
Supporting the goals and ideals of National HIV/AIDS and Aging
Awareness Day.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 17, 2021
Ms. Lee of California (for herself, Miss Gonzalez-Colon, Mrs. Carolyn
B. Maloney of New York, Ms. Salazar, Mr. Deutch, Mr. Danny K. Davis of
Illinois, Ms. Schakowsky, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Mr. Rush, Mr. Cicilline, Mr.
Tonko, Ms. Dean, Ms. Sewell, Mr. Soto, Mr. Quigley, Ms. Williams of
Georgia, Mr. Jones, Ms. Craig, Ms. Barragan, and Mr. McGovern)
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee
on Energy and Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Supporting the goals and ideals of National HIV/AIDS and Aging
Awareness Day.
Whereas National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day is a nationwide observance
that brings attention to the growing number of people living with HIV/
AIDS (PLWHA) who are living long and full lives, to their health, and to
their social needs;
Whereas, more than 40 years into the epidemic, the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention estimates that in the United States there are more than
1,200,000 PLWHA, and every year approximately 40,000 people acquire HIV/
AIDS;
Whereas over half of PLWHA in the United States and dependent areas are
individuals who are someone aged 50 or older;
Whereas, globally, there are 5,700,000 PLWHA aged 50 and older;
Whereas, in the United States, one in six of every new HIV diagnosis is of
someone aged 50 and over;
Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports over 100,000
PLWHA are over the age of 65 now in the United States, and this trend of
the aging of the HIV population increases every year and it's projected
that by 2030 75 percent of PLWHA in the United States will be over the
age of 50;
Whereas research indicates that older Americans are more likely than younger
Americans to be diagnosed with HIV late in the course of their disease
progression, and are more likely to be diagnosed with advanced HIV or
AIDS;
Whereas the Department of Health and Human Services reports that those people
living with HIV/AIDS for many years can exhibit clinical characteristics
observed in aging, including multiple chronic diseases or coexisting
conditions, the use of multiple medications, changes in physical and
cognitive abilities, and increased vulnerability to stressors;
Whereas PLWHA contract comorbidities on average earlier in age, sometimes by as
much as 15 years, and at higher rates by 2 to 5 times;
Whereas comorbidities may include heart disease, kidney disease, bone disease,
cancers, cognitive dysfunction, and mental and physical impairment or
disability;
Whereas recent studies report reduced life expectancy and greater mortality
rates for older PLWHA, African Americans, and women with HIV have higher
rates of comorbidities and risk for mortality; and
Whereas September 18 of each year is now recognized as National HIV/AIDS and
Aging Awareness Day: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) supports the goals and ideals of National HIV/AIDS and
Aging Awareness Day;
(2) encourages Tribal, Territorial, State, and local
governments, including their public health agencies, geriatric
providers and professionals, State units on aging, area
agencies on aging, and media organizations, to recognize and
support such a day;
(3) supports the right of older PLWHA to education,
prevention, treatment, and care, and to live without
criminalization, discrimination, oppression, and stigma;
(4) supports increased services and access to health care
and treatment for PLWHA, particularly women and older people
among the estimated over 400,000 PLWHA who are not in care or
virally suppressed;
(5) supports sound policymaking based on the premise of
Treatment as Prevention or ``U=U'';
(6) supports removal of HIV/AIDS laws that are
scientifically inaccurate and unfairly criminalize older PLWHA
for behaviors that are consensual or have no risk of
transmission;
(7) urges age-friendly and accessible health care services,
especially access to medications such as preexposure
prophylaxis, postexposure prophylaxis, and antiretroviral
therapy, without regard to age--
(A) to better provide for the early identification
of HIV/AIDS through voluntary routine testing of people
of all ages; and
(B) to connect those in need to clinically and
culturally appropriate care and treatment as early as
possible;
(8) supports the increase of funding for programs that
support people impacted by and living with HIV/AIDS, including
the Ryan White HIV/AIDS program, the Medicaid program, AIDS
Drug Assistance programs, the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention's National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis,
STD, and TB Prevention program, the Housing Opportunities for
Persons With AIDS program, and programs that support older
PLWHA, including by--
(A) educating communities on testing and treatment
options for PLWHA;
(B) helping PLWHA to access preexposure
prophylaxis; and
(C) supporting increased services and access to
health care and treatment for PLWHA, particularly older
people, who are among the estimated 400,000 PLWHA who
are not in care or virally suppressed;
(9) recognizes that the current HIV health care system does
not meet the needs of the aging (older than 50 years old) and
elderly (older than 65 years old) PLWHA population and must be
reconfigured and expanded;
(10) supports the expansion to provide patient-centered
care that meets the needs of the aging and elderly population
through incorporating systems and geriatric elements and of
care through HIV clinics and its systems of care; and
(11) recommends a comprehensive prevention and treatment
strategy that empowers older people, public health workers,
geriatric providers and professionals, faith leaders, and other
stakeholders to--
(A) fully engage with their communities and
families to improve the quality of life and health for
those PLWHA;
(B) help decrease violence, discrimination, and
stigma toward individuals who disclose their sexual
orientation or HIV/AIDS status; and
(C) provide older PLWHA the services and supports
they need as they age.
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