Introduced
February 4, 2026
Ms. Waters (for herself, Mr. Pocan, Mrs. Watson Coleman, Mr. Garcia of California, Mr. Cohen, Mr. Davis of Illinois, Ms. Norton, Ms. Williams of Georgia, Mr. Mfume, Mr. Carter of Louisiana, Ms. Tlaib, Mr. Carson, Ms. Simon, Mr. Krishnamoorthi, Ms. Clarke of New York, Ms. Barragán, Mrs. McIver, Ms. Sewell, Mrs. Ramirez, Ms. McClellan, Mr. Cleaver, Ms. Kelly of Illinois, Mr. Thompson of Mississippi, Mr. Bell, Ms. Wilson of Florida, Ms. Kamlager-Dove, Mr. Thanedar, Mrs. Grijalva, Ms. Friedman, and Mr. Takano) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
RESOLUTION
Supporting the goals and ideals of “National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day”.
- (1) supports the goals and ideals of “National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day”;
- (2) encourages State and local governments, including their public health agencies, and media organizations to recognize and support such day, to publicize its importance among their communities, and to encourage individuals, especially African-Americans, to get tested for HIV;
- (3) commends the work of AIDS service organizations, community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, health care providers, community health centers, and health departments that are providing effective, culturally competent, evidence-based prevention, treatment, care, and support services to people living with and vulnerable to HIV/AIDS;
- (4) supports the implementation of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy and its goals to reduce new HIV cases, increase access to care and treatment, and improve health outcomes for people living with HIV, reduce HIV-related disparities and health inequities, and achieve a more coordinated national response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic;
- (5) requests the Secretary of Health and Human Services to prioritize the distribution of Minority AIDS Initiative grants to HIV-based agencies that are minority led with preference given to organizations led by people who identify as African-American/Black, Latino, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian-American, or Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander;
- (6) supports reducing the impact of incarceration as a driver of new HIV transmission rates within the African-American community;
- (7) supports reducing the number of HIV transmissions in the African-American community resulting from intravenous drug use;
- (8) supports effective and comprehensive HIV prevention education programs in order to promote the early identification of HIV through voluntary routine testing and to connect those in need to clinically and culturally appropriate care and treatment as early as possible;
- (9) encourages State and local governments, including their public health agencies, and community-based organizations to share and disseminate that when people living with HIV are on treatment and have an undetectable viral load, they protect their own health and they cannot transmit HIV to their sexual partners;
- (10) supports appropriate funding for HIV/AIDS prevention, care, treatment, research, and housing, including community-based approaches to fight stigma, discrimination, racism, sexism, homophobia, and transphobia;
- (11) encourages comprehensive prevention, treatment, and care strategies that empower public health workers, educators, faith leaders, and other stakeholders to engage their communities to help decrease violence, discrimination, and stigma toward individuals who disclose their sexual orientation, gender identity, or HIV status; and
- (12) encourages State, local, and Federal agencies to consistently partner and formally engage with network leaders comprised of subject matter experts with lived experience to uphold the meaningful involvement of people living with HIV as laid out in the Denver Principles of 1983.