[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 693 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 693
Expressing support for the designation of September 9 as ``National
African Immigrant and Refugee HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis Awareness Day'' or
``NAIRHHA Day''.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 10, 2025
Mr. Johnson of Georgia (for himself and Ms. Velazquez) submitted the
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and
Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Expressing support for the designation of September 9 as ``National
African Immigrant and Refugee HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis Awareness Day'' or
``NAIRHHA Day''.
Whereas, between 1980 and 2019, the number of African immigrants in the United
States increased nearly sixteenfold, a growth that roughly equates to a
1,500 percent increase, far surpassing earlier estimates of 500 percent;
Whereas, from 2000 to 2019 alone, the African immigrant population grew by
approximately 246 percent, rising from around 600,000 to 2,000,000,
making African immigrants the fastest-growing group among Black
immigrants in the United States, and their numbers are expected to
continue rising significantly in the coming decades;
Whereas HIV infection rates are 6 times higher in the African immigrant
population than in the general United States population and are nearly
twice those of United States-born Black individuals;
Whereas, despite PrEP's proven effectiveness in preventing HIV transmission,
fewer than 30 percent of African immigrants are aware of preexposure
prophylaxis (PrEP), and less than 5 percent have reported prior use,
reflecting a critical gap in prevention outreach, education, and
culturally responsive services;
Whereas African immigrants face the highest average chronic hepatitis B rates in
the country, with approximately 10 percent of these communities living
with hepatitis B;
Whereas HIV and hepatitis B and C are preventable and treatable conditions, with
appropriate attention and focus, health outcomes among African immigrant
communities can be improved and lives can be saved;
Whereas the CDC recommends that individuals born in Africa, or individuals born
in the United States who have at least 1 parent born in Africa, who were
not vaccinated at birth, should be prioritized for hepatitis B testing;
Whereas African immigrant communities face significant challenges to HIV and
viral hepatitis testing, care, and treatment;
Whereas, though they have high rates of infection, they have low rates of
diagnosis and care;
Whereas challenges include stigma, fear, lack of awareness and knowledge,
language barriers, traditional values and social norms, and limited
access to health care services;
Whereas there also exists a need for providers and services to be culturally and
linguistically appropriate to better meet the needs of African
immigrants, in keeping with the National Standards for Culturally and
Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) in Health and Health Care,
which describe a framework to deliver services that are culturally and
linguistically appropriate and respectful, and that respond to patients'
cultural health beliefs, preferences, and communication needs;
Whereas immigration status is also associated with fear of health facilities,
low acculturation and unfamiliarity navigating complex health care
systems, social and economic marginalization, fear of deportation, and a
lower rate of health insurance, all posing considerable barriers to the
health of African immigrants and refugees living in the United States;
Whereas NAIRHHA Day is a day aimed toward bringing local and national attention
to the health issues of HIV/AIDS and viral hepatitis in African
immigrant and refugee populations in the United States, in a way that is
culturally and linguistically appropriate;
Whereas, by addressing some of the unique issues that African immigrants in the
United States face through awareness, education, and resources, NAIRHHA
Day will help empower communities to take charge of their own health;
Whereas the objectives of NAIRHHA Day include--
(1) raising awareness and eliminating stigma;
(2) education about protection against HIV, viral hepatitis and other
related diseases, placing control back within the community by encouraging
screenings and treatment, as well as hepatitis B vaccination; and
(3) advocating for policies and practices that promote healthy African
immigrant communities, families, and individuals;
Whereas no existing HIV/AIDS awareness day addresses the distinct factors
influencing the high rates of HIV and viral hepatitis in African
immigrants and refugees, groups which are often overlooked or
misclassified as ``Black'' or ``African American'' in HIV surveillance
programs, due to not collecting or reporting on information about
country of origin;
Whereas, with the rapid population rise of African immigrants in the United
States, it is critical to raise awareness among health care and social
service providers and among African immigrant and refugee communities
about the risk of viral hepatitis and HIV/AIDS, their potential
consequences, and opportunities for prevention, diagnosis, and
treatment;
Whereas, as African immigrants become long-term United States residents, it will
be increasingly important to provide screening, prevention, and
treatment of chronic and infectious diseases with a culturally sensitive
approach;
Whereas building capacity within communities to promote knowledge, treatment and
prevention of HIV and viral hepatitis contributes greatly to the
sustainability of the NAIRHHA Day initiative, for as communities
increase their capacity to respond to the ``silent epidemics'' of HIV
and viral hepatitis, they will develop their own resources to continue
this work;
Whereas, by encouraging more people to get tested and seek treatment, NAIRHHA
Day is aiding those who suffer now and preventing others from
contracting these transmissible diseases; and
Whereas, by trying to lessen, if not remove, the stigma behind HIV/AIDS and
viral hepatitis, NAIRHHA Day is facilitating community building and
communication: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) supports the designation of ``National African
Immigrant and Refugee HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis Awareness Day'';
(2) recognizes the importance of dedicating more attention
and resources to addressing HIV/AIDS and viral hepatitis in
African immigrant and refugee communities across the United
States; and
(3) encourages a commitment to reducing new viral hepatitis
and HIV infections and hepatitis B and C- and HIV-related
deaths through more robust screening, vaccination, and linkage
to treatment and care in African immigrant and refugee
communities.
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