LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to
proclaim May 19, 2014, as Asian and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness
Day in the State of New York, in conjunction with the observance of
National Asian and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize official
days that are set aside to increase awareness of serious public health
issues that affect the lives of the residents of New York State; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is moved to memorialize
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim May 19, 2014, as Asian and Pacific
Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day in the State of New York, in conjunction
with the observance of National Asian and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS
Awareness Day; and
WHEREAS, National Asian and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is
a national mobilization effort designed to encourage people of Asian and
Pacific Islander descent to get educated, get tested, get involved in
prevention, and get treated for HIV and AIDS; and
WHEREAS, Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
illustrate that Asian and Pacific Islander populations have the highest
rate of increase in new HIV infections in the United States, showing the
only statistically significant growth among any racial or ethnic group;
in fact, during the same time period studied, the rate of HIV infection
declined for all other racial and ethnic groups; and
WHEREAS, Two-thirds of Asians, Native Hawaiians and other Pacific
Islanders have never been tested for HIV; indeed, Asians and Pacific
Islanders have the lowest HIV testing rates of all races and ethnici-
ties, compared to rates of 37.9 percent of Whites, 57.8 percent of
Blacks or African Americans, 42.7 percent of American Indian or Alaska
Natives, and 42.4 percent of Hispanic/Latinos; and
WHEREAS, Low testing rates and annual increases in HIV infections mean
that more Asians and Pacific Islanders are being infected with HIV; it
is estimated that one in three Asians and Pacific Islanders who are
living with HIV do not know it; and
WHEREAS, Although national estimates show that Native Hawaiians and
other Pacific Islanders are not greatly affected by HIV, current esti-
mates of HIV and AIDS diagnoses among this population may be too low
because of race/ethnicity misclassification, potentially masking the
real impact of HIV on this population; and
WHEREAS, It is crucial that days such as National Asian and Pacific
Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day are observed in order to continue to
raise awareness and eventually halt the spread of HIV/AIDS, not only
among Asians and Pacific Islanders, but across all communities through-
out the State of New York, the United States of America, and around the
world; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim May 19, 2014, as Asian
and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day in the State of New York, in
conjunction with the observance of National Asian and Pacific Islander
HIV/AIDS Awareness Day; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New
York.