This House resolution supports the goals and ideals of "National Youth HIV/AIDS Awareness Day," recognized each year on April 10. It cites CDC estimates that more than 1,189,700 people in the United States are living with HIV and that 30,635 people were diagnosed with HIV in 2020. In 2020, people ages 13 to 24 made up 20% of new HIV diagnoses. The resolution notes that young people with HIV are the least likely age group to stay in care and reach viral suppression and that 56% of young people ages 13 to 24 are unaware of their HIV status. It highlights racial and sexual orientation disparities: African-American youth accounted for 54% of new transmissions among ages 13 to 24, young gay and bisexual men made up 84% of new diagnoses in that age group, and young African-American gay and bisexual men represented 53% (2,740) of new diagnoses among young gay and bisexual men.
The resolution calls on State and local governments, public health and education agencies, schools, and media organizations to recognize and support the day. It affirms young people’s right to education, prevention, treatment, and care without criminalization or stigma. It promotes up-to-date, inclusive, culturally responsible, and medically accurate HIV information in sex education, including information about pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). The resolution supports removing HIV laws that are scientifically inaccurate or that criminalize young people for consensual or no-risk behaviors. It urges youth-friendly access to medications (PrEP, post-exposure prophylaxis, and antiretroviral therapy), including access without parental consent, voluntary routine testing, early connection to care, and smoother transitions to adult HIV care. It supports increased funding for programs that serve young people affected by HIV, naming the CDC Division of Adolescent and School Health, the Division of STD Prevention, the Division of HIV Prevention, the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, Medicaid, and AIDS Drug Assistance Programs, among others. The resolution calls for a prevention and treatment strategy that centers youth leadership and aims to reduce violence, discrimination, and stigma. It also recognizes that restrictions on abortion, birth control access, and bans on transgender health care can negatively affect youth access to nonstigmatizing HIV prevention and confidential testing and treatment.
The resolution supports increasing funding for several named programs but does not specify dollar amounts or budget sources. No publicly available information on estimated costs is included in the text.
The resolution’s sponsors and supporters emphasize the need to invest in young people’s health, education, and leadership. They highlight youth HIV disparities and gaps in care and urge updated, inclusive sex education, removal of unjust criminalization, youth-friendly access to prevention and treatment (including without parental consent), and more funding for CDC and other programs that serve adolescents and young adults living with or at risk for HIV.
No publicly available information.