Expressing support for the designation of September 9 as "National African Immigrant and Refugee HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis Awareness Day" or "NAIRHHA Day".

Bill Number

H.Res. 693

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Health

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-09-10: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Last Updated

2025-09-24T16:17:09Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

This House Resolution (H. Res. 693) expresses congressional support for designating September 9 as "National African Immigrant and Refugee HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis Awareness Day," also known as "NAIRHHA Day." The goal is to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS and viral hepatitis (liver infections like hepatitis B and C) among African immigrants and refugees in the U.S., address health disparities, reduce stigma, and promote prevention, testing, and treatment in culturally sensitive ways.

Key Provisions

• Background on Population and Health Issues: Highlights the rapid growth of African immigrants in the U.S. (from about 600,000 in 2000 to 2 million in 2019, a 246% increase), higher HIV infection rates (6 times the general U.S. population), low awareness and use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP, a medication to prevent HIV), and high chronic hepatitis B rates (about 10% in these communities).
• Challenges Faced: Notes barriers like stigma, language issues, cultural norms, limited healthcare access, fear due to immigration status, and lack of culturally appropriate services (referencing National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services, or CLAS, which guide respectful, patient-centered care).
• Objectives of NAIRHHA Day:
• Raise awareness and eliminate stigma around HIV/AIDS and hepatitis.
• Educate on protection, encourage screenings, treatment, and hepatitis B vaccinations.
• Advocate for policies supporting healthy African immigrant communities.
• Resolved Actions:
• Supports the designation of NAIRHHA Day.
• Recognizes the need for more attention and resources to address these health issues.
• Encourages efforts to reduce new infections and related deaths through better screening, vaccination, and access to care.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This is a non-binding resolution, so it introduces no legal changes or enforceable requirements. It does not amend any statutes but builds on existing public health recommendations, such as CDC guidelines prioritizing hepatitis B testing for those born in Africa or with African-born parents.

Potential Impacts

• On Citizens: Could empower African immigrant and refugee communities by increasing education, reducing stigma, and encouraging testing and treatment, potentially improving health outcomes and saving lives. It may indirectly boost community-led initiatives for disease prevention.
• On Government Agencies: Encourages agencies like the CDC to focus more on culturally tailored outreach, though without mandating funding or programs. It highlights gaps in HIV surveillance (e.g., lack of country-of-origin data) that could inform future policy.
• On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, but it underscores U.S. commitment to health equity for immigrant groups, which may support broader global health diplomacy related to HIV and hepatitis.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• African Immigrants and Refugees: Primary beneficiaries, facing higher disease risks and barriers to care.
• Healthcare Providers and Organizations: Need to adopt culturally and linguistically appropriate services; community groups may lead NAIRHHA Day events.
• Government and Public Health Entities: Including Congress, the CDC, and local health departments, which could see increased advocacy for resources.
• Broader Black and Immigrant Communities: Addresses overlooked subgroups often grouped under "Black" or "African American" in health data.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: As a simple resolution, it has no force of law and requires no presidential approval; it serves as a symbolic statement rather than creating rights or obligations.
• Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's role in expressing policy priorities under Article I, without infringing on individual rights or federalism.
• Political: Demonstrates bipartisan support for immigrant health (introduced by Rep. Johnson and Rep. Velázquez) and highlights equity issues in public health, potentially influencing future appropriations or awareness campaigns. It calls attention to "silent epidemics" in underserved groups, fostering community empowerment without partisan controversy.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4]

Cosponsors (1)

Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7]

Recent Actions

• 2025-09-10: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
• 2025-09-10: Submitted in House
• 2025-09-10: Submitted in House

Bill Versions

• Expressing support for the designation of September 9 as "National African Immigrant and Refugee HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis Awareness Day" or "NAIRHHA Day". — issued 2025-09-10 — PDF (5 pages)