,,ii #aacth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #adjh ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,july #ca1 #bjac ,mrs4 ,gillibrand introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions ,a ,,bill ,to address the dramatic increase of ,,hiv_/,,aids in minority communities4 #a4 ,short title2 table of contents 7a7 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,communities ,united with ,religious leaders for the ,elimination of ,,hiv_/,,aids ,act of #bjac or the ,,cure ,act of #bjac4 7b7 ,table of contents ,the table of contents for this ,act is as follows3 ,sec4 #a4 ,short title2 table of contents4 ,sec4 #b4 ,findings4 ,sec4 #c4 ,definitions4 ,sec4 #d4 ,office of ,minority ,health grants for activities to reduce ,,hiv_/,,aids among those with the greatest rate of increasing rates of infection in the minority communities4 ,sec4 #e4 ,substance ,abuse and ,mental ,health ,services ,administration grants for ,,hiv testing and counseling services for high risk youth4 ,sec4 #f4 ,centers for ,disease ,control and ,prevention grants for public health testing1 intervention1 and prevention activities4 ,sec4 #g4 ,centers for ,disease ,control and ,prevention activities for ,,hiv_/,,aids prevention and education4 ,sec4 #h4 ,centers for ,disease ,control and ,prevention national media outreach campaign4 ,sec4 #i4 ,national ,center on ,minority ,health and ,health ,disparities grants for study on prevention based on behavioral factors4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,the latest estimates of the ,centers for ,disease ,control and ,prevention of the incidence of new ,,hiv infections in the ,united ,states indicate that ,,hiv remains a serious health problem4 7#b7 ,it has been estimated that #a4c million people in the ,united ,states are living with ,,hiv_/,,aids4 ,approximately #ej1jjj people in the ,united ,states are newly infected and nearly one in five of those are not aware that they are infected4 7#c7 ,racial and ethnic minorities accounted for almost #ga percent of the newly diagnosed cases of ,,hiv infection in #bjaj4 ,the national ,,hiv rates 7per #ajj1jjj persons7 for minority groups as of #bjaj was #fh4i for ,blacks1 #bg4e for ,hispanics1 #ai4c for ,native ,hawaiian and ,pacific ,islanders1 #i4g for ,american ,indian_/,alaska ,natives1 and #f4e for ,asian ,americans4 7#d7 ,although ,blacks are only #ad percent of the ,united ,states population1 they account for half 7#dd percent7 of all new ,,hiv infection cases in #bjaj4 ,they are #h4j times more likely to have ,,hiv than ,whites4 7#e7 ,black women accounted for #ac percent of all new ,,hiv infections in the ,united ,states in #bjaj and nearly #fd percent of all new infections among women4 ,most black women 7#hg percent7 were infected through heterosexual sex4 ,in #bjaj1 ,,aids was the third leading cause of death in black women #ce to #dd years of age4 ,this equates to the death rate from ,,hiv of #bb times more likely than ,white women4 7#f7 ,black men represented almost one-third 7#ca percent7 of all new ,,hiv infections in the ,united ,states in #bjaj and account for #gj percent of new ,,hiv infections among ,blacks4 ,,aids is also the third leading cause of death for ,black men #ce to #dd years of age4 7#g7 ,the rate of new ,,hiv diagnoses among ,black males #ac to #bi years of age who have sex with males has increased #dh percent between #bjjf and #bjji4 7#h7 ,second to ,blacks1 ,hispanics compose the minority group most disproportionately affected by ,,hiv4 ,accounting for #af percent of the ,united ,states population1 ,hispanics account for #bj percent of all new ,,hiv infections4 7#i7 ,in #bjaj1 ,hispanic females are almost #e times as likely to have ,,aids as ,white females4 7#aj7 ,over two-thirds of ,asian ,americans and over one-half of ,pacific ,islanders have never been tested for ,,hiv4 ,asian ,americans1 ,native ,hawaiian1 and ,pacific ,islanders account for approximately one percent of ,,hiv_/,,aids cases nationally4 ,asian ,americans have lower ,,aids rates than their ,white counterparts and they are less likely to die of ,,hiv_/,,aids4 7#aa7 ,,hiv_/,,aids is the ninth leading cause of death in ,asian and ,pacific ,island men aged #be to #cd4 7#ab7 ,native ,hawaiians and ,other ,pacific ,islanders are #b4f times more likely to be diagnosed with ,,hiv as compared to the ,white population4 ,while ,native ,hawaiians and ,other ,pacific ,islanders represent #j4d percent of the total population in the ,united ,states1 the ,,aids case rate for ,native ,hawaiians and ,other ,pacific ,islanders was twice that of the ,white population in #bjaj4 7#ac7 ,american ,indians_/,alaska ,natives have a #cj percent higher rate of ,,hiv_/,,aids infection as compared to the ,white population4 ,in #bjaj1 ,american ,indian_/,alaska ,native females were three times more likely to be diagnosed with ,,hiv infection1 as compared to the ,white female population4 7#ad7 ,runaway youth are #f to #ab times more likely to become infected with ,,hiv than other youth4 7#ae7 ,in ,august #bjjg1 the ,national ,medical ,association1 representing #cj1jjj ,african-,american physicians1 released a consensus report titled ,addressing the ,,hiv_/,,aids ,crisis ,in ,the ,african ,american ,community3 ,fact1 ,fiction and ,policy which specifically called on the next ,president of the ,united ,states to declare ,,hiv_/,,aids in ,african-,american communities a public health emergency4 ,the ,national ,medical ,association has worked with the ,national ,black ,leadership ,commission on ,,aids 7,,nblca7 to organize clergy to advocate for the specific needs of ,black physicians1 their patients1 and those at risk in ,african-,american communities4 ,both organizations have pledged to advocate and work with clergy to develop1 execute1 and implement these initiatives in ,african-,american communities and culture4 7#af7 ,in ,october #bjjg1 #ahf ,black clergy1 consisting of ,baptist1 ,church of ,god in ,christ 7,,cogic71 ,methodist1 ,protestant1 ,african ,methodist ,episcopal 7,,ame71 and ,pentecostal faiths came together to participate in the ,national ,black ,clergy ,conclave on ,,hiv_/,,aids ,policy1 hosted by ,time ,warner1 ,inc41 with other foundation support4 ,included in this prestigious gathering were the ,health ,brain ,trust of the ,congressional ,black ,caucus1 leaders from the ,national ,conference of ,black ,mayors1 and the ,national ,caucus of ,black ,state ,legislators4 ,this group developed a plan of action that has become the ,communities ,united with ,religious leaders to ,eliminate ,,hiv_/,,aids in minority communities to respond to the on the ground emergency in prevention1 care1 and treatment for ,,aids in ,black ,america4 7#ag7 ,the ,national ,black ,clergy ,conclave on ,,hiv_/,,aids declared the ,,hiv_/,,aids crisis in the ,african-,american community a public health emergency4 ,the ,national ,conclave also recognized that ,,hiv_/,,aids is growing in and affecting other minority groups disproportionately4 ,therefore1 the ,conclave is collaborating with the ,national ,alliance for ,hispanic ,health1 a #cj-year-old organization aimed at ,hispanic health2 the ,asian ,pacific ,islander ,american ,health ,forum1 a #bg-year-old national organization focused on improving the health of ,asian ,americans1 ,native ,hawaiians1 and ,pacific ,islanders2 and the ,asian-,pacific ,islander ,wellness ,center and ,esperanza1 a ,latino based national organization to end ,,hiv_/,,aids disparities within these racial and minority communities4 7#ah7 ,at their ,april #bjjh annual meeting1 the ,national ,policy ,alliance1 consisting of the ,joint ,center ,for ,political and ,economic ,studies 7secretariat71 the ,national ,black ,caucus of ,school ,board ,members1 ,national ,black ,caucus of ,local ,elected ,officials1 the ,judicial ,council of the ,national ,bar ,association1 the ,national ,association of ,black ,county ,officials1 ,blacks in ,government1 ,national ,conference of ,black ,mayors1 and the ,world ,council of ,mayors voted unanimously to support1 endorse1 and encourage the passage of a bill that addresses the dramatic increase of ,,hiv_/,,aids in minority communities and to organize their respective members to endorse and support the passage of such a bill4 #c4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,,aids1 ,,hiv1 and ,,hiv_/,,aids ,the terms ,,aids1 ,,hiv1 and ,,hiv_/,,aids have the meanings given such terms in section #bfhi of the ,public ,health ,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cjj;ff-#hh74 7#b7 ,eligible health entities ,the term eligible health entity means any of the following entities that serve at least one minority group3 7,a7 ,a public health agency4 7,b7 ,a health center1 including an entity operated by an ,indian tribe or tribal or ,indian organization under the ,indian ,self-,determination ,act or an urban ,indian organization under the ,indian ,health ,care ,improvement ,act4 7,c7 ,a community-based organization4 7,d7 ,a faith-based organization4 7#c7 ,minority group ,the term minority group has the meaning given the term racial and ethnic minority group under section #agjg7;g7 of the ,public ,health ,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cjju-#f7;g77 and includes such other groups as specified by the ,deputy ,assistant ,secretary for ,minority ,health4 7#d7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services4 #d4 ,office of ,minority ,health grants for activities to reduce ,,hiv_/,,aids among those with the greatest rate of increasing rates of infection in the minority communities 7a7 ,in general ,for the purpose of reducing ,,hiv_/,,aids among minority groups1 the ,secretary1 acting through the ,deputy ,assistant ,secretary for ,minority ,health1 may make grants to eligible health entities to conduct any of the following activities1 with respect to one or more minority groups1 including youth in such groups3 7#a7 ,,hiv_/,,aids education and outreach activities4 7#b7 ,activities focusing on the prevention of ,,hiv_/,,aids and access to treatment for ,,hiv_/,,aids4 7#c7 ,,hiv_/,,aids testing activities4 7b7 ,eligibility ,to be eligible to receive a grant under subsection 7a71 an entity shall submit to the ,deputy ,assistant ,secretary an application at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as required by the ,deputy ,assistant ,secretary4 7c7 ,priority 7#a7 ,in general ,in making grants under subsection 7a71 the ,secretary1 acting though the ,deputy ,assistant ,secretary for ,minority ,health1 shall give priority to applications for proposed activities to serve one or more minority groups with a rate of occurrence of ,,hiv that is equal to at least the applicable minimum rate specified by the ,secretary under paragraph 7#b74 7#b7 ,specification of minimum rate of occurrence of ,,hiv ,for purposes of paragraph 7#a71 the ,secretary1 in consultation with relevant stakeholders1 shall specify a minimum rate of occurrence of ,,hiv1 which may be based on gender and geographic area4 7d7 ,funding 7#a7 ,authorization of appropriations ,to carry out this section1 there are authorized to be appropriated #be1jjj1jjj for each of the fiscal years #bjad through #bjag4 ,any funds made available to the ,secretary pursuant to the previous sentence for a fiscal year shall remain available until expended but in no case after fiscal year #bjag4 7#b7 ,administrative costs ,of the amounts made available1 pursuant to paragraph 7#a71 to carry out this section for a year1 not more than #aj percent of such amounts may be used for administrative costs4 #e4 ,substance ,abuse and ,mental ,health ,services ,administration grants for ,,hiv testing and counseling services for high risk youth 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary1 acting through the ,administrator of the ,substance ,abuse and ,mental ,health ,services ,administration1 may make grants to eligible health entities to provide ,,hiv testing and subsequent counseling and referral for medical treatment based on the results of such testing1 to youth who are-- 7#a7 members of minority groups2 7#b7 not more than #ah years of age2 7#c7 ,,hiv positive or at risk for ,,hiv_/,,aids1 including young men of racial minorities who have sex with men2 and 7#d7 engaged in substance abuse4 ,such youth may include those who have run away from home1 are homeless1 have had experience in the juvenile justice system1 or reside in a detention center or foster care4 7b7 ,uses of grants ,an entity receiving a grant under this section may only use such grant to provide-- 7#a7 testing for ,,hiv for the youth described in subsection 7a72 7#b7 counseling for such youth-- 7,a7 on information on ,,hiv that is based on medical science and annually updated2 and 7,b7 to help such youth to assess ,,hiv-risk situations and alter behaviors to promote choices of lower risk2 and 7#c7 referral to health resources1 mental health resources1 and health organizations1 which may include medical centers receiving funding under part ,a or part ,b of title ,,xxvi of the ,public ,health ,service ,act4 7c7 ,eligibility ,to be eligible to receive a grant under subsection 7a71 an entity shall submit to the ,administrator an application at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as required by the ,administrator4 7d7 ,authorization of appropriations ,to carry out this section1 there are authorized to be appropriated #e1jjj1jjj for each of the fiscal years #bjad through #bjag4 ,any funds made available to the ,secretary pursuant to the previous sentence for a fiscal year shall remain available until expended but in no case after fiscal year #bjag4 #f4 ,centers for ,disease ,control and ,prevention grants for public health testing1 intervention1 and prevention activities 7a7 ,in general ,for the purpose of reducing the rate of occurrence of ,,hiv_/,,aids with respect to minority groups1 the ,secretary1 acting through the ,director of the ,centers for ,disease ,control and ,prevention1 may make grants to eligible health entities for public health intervention and prevention activities described in subsection 7b74 7b7 ,grant uses ,an entity receiving a grant under this section may use such grant to only conduct the following public health intervention and prevention activities with respect to one or more minority groups3 7#a7 ,rapid ,,hiv testing4 7#b7 ,measures and activities to prevent the spread of ,,hiv_/,,aids and to minimize symptoms of ,,hiv_/,,aids4 7#c7 ,outreach activities targeting both females and males4 7#d7 ,referrals to health resources1 mental health resources1 and health organizations4 7c7 ,eligibility 7#a7 ,in general ,to be eligible to receive a grant under subsection 7a7 an entity shall submit to the ,director an application at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as required by the ,director1 including the provision of the assurances described in paragraph 7#b74 7#b7 ,assurances ,for purposes of paragraph 7#a71 the assurances described in this paragraph1 with respect to an entity seeking a grant under this section1 are each of the following assurances3 7,a7 ,partnerships ,an assurance to the satisfaction of the ,secretary that the entity will enter into partnerships with public or private health agencies in carrying out the activities funded by the grant4 7,b7 ,allocation of grant for activities for females ,an assurance to the satisfaction of the ,secretary that the entity will use at least #fj percent of the amounts received under the grant on activities described in subsection 7b7 that are for females in minority groups4 7d7 ,authorization of appropriations ,to carry out this section1 there are authorized to be appropriated #aj1jjj1jjj for each of the fiscal years #bjad through #bjag4 ,any funds made available to the ,secretary pursuant to the previous sentence for a fiscal year shall remain available until expended but in no case after fiscal year #bjag4 #g4 ,centers for ,disease ,control and ,prevention activities for ,,hiv_/,,aids prevention and education 7a7 ,prevention activities ,the ,secretary1 acting through the ,director of the ,centers for ,disease ,control and ,prevention1 shall expand and intensify ,,hiv_/,,aids prevention and education activities for minority groups4 ,such activities shall-- 7#a7 be targeted to minority groups with a rate of occurrence of ,,hiv that is at least equal to the minimum rate of occurrence specified by the ,secretary under section #d7;c77#b72 7#b7 be comprehensive and updated annually based on science and research2 and 7#c7 include the dissemination of medically-based information on the importance of open conversation on ,,hiv in the community involved1 the importance of adherence to medical treatment and medication1 reduction of the stigma of ,,hiv1 the importance of ,,hiv testing1 risk situation assessment1 methods of ,,hiv transmission prevention1 and the risk of maternal-fetal and maternal breast milk transmission4 7b7 ,education ,the ,secretary1 acting through the ,director of the ,centers for ,disease ,control and ,prevention1 shall expand and intensify culturally appropriate and linguistically accessible ,,hiv_/,,aids educational activities for minority groups1 including for members of such groups who are intravenous drug users1 ,hispanic and ,black women1 youth1 and men who have sex with men4 7c7 ,coordination ,the ,secretary shall carry out this section in coordination with1 as appropriate1 public schools of all levels1 organizations that are advocates for advancing minority health1 and eligible health entities4 7d7 ,authorization of appropriations ,to carry out this section1 there are authorized to be appropriated #i1jjj1jjj for each of the fiscal years #bjad through #bjag4 ,any funds made available to the ,secretary pursuant to the previous sentence for a fiscal year shall remain available until expended but in no case after fiscal year #bjag4 #h4 ,centers for ,disease ,control and ,prevention national media outreach campaign 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary1 acting through the ,director of the ,centers for ,disease ,control and ,prevention1 shall implement a national media outreach campaign that urges sexually active individuals who are members of minority groups to be tested for and know their ,,hiv_/,,aids status4 7b7 ,requirements ,the national media outreach campaign under this section-- 7#a7 shall-- 7,a7 be science-driven and targeted to minority men1 women1 and youth2 and 7,b7 give special emphasis to ,black and ,hispanic women and minority males who have sex with males1 including those who are not more than #ah years of age2 and 7#b7 may target high schools and universities with #dj percent or greater minority enrollment4 7c7 ,local organizations ,in implementing the campaign under subsection 7a71 the ,secretary may enter into agreements with local organizations 7as defined by the ,secretary7 that focus on serving a single metropolitan community4 7d7 ,authorization of appropriations ,to carry out this section1 there are authorized to be appropriated #aj1jjj1jjj for each of the fiscal years #bjad through #bjag4 ,any funds made available to the ,secretary pursuant to the previous sentence for a fiscal year shall remain available until expended but in no case after fiscal year #bjag4 #i4 ,national ,center on ,minority ,health and ,health ,disparities grants for study on prevention based on behavioral factors 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary1 acting through the ,director of the ,national ,center on ,minority ,health and ,health ,disparities1 may make grants to eligible entities to study behavioral factors that lead to increased ,,hiv_/,,aids prevalence in minority groups4 7b7 ,eligible entities ,for purposes of this section1 an eligible entity is a public or private organization with one or more published studies on behaviors4 7c7 ,authorization of appropriations ,to carry out this section1 there are authorized to be appropriated #aj1jjj1jjj for each of the fiscal years #bjad through #bjag4 ,any funds made available to the ,secretary pursuant to the previous sentence for a fiscal year shall remain available until expended but in no case after fiscal year #bjag4