Commemorating and supporting the goals of World AIDS Day.

Bill Number: H.Res. 919
Origin Chamber: House
Congress: 119th Congress, Session 1
Policy Area: Health
Status: Introduced
Latest Action: 2025-12-02: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Last Updated: 2025-12-05T16:17:51Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

This House Resolution (H. Res. 919) aims to commemorate World AIDS Day on December 1 and support global and domestic efforts to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic by 2030. It highlights progress made, ongoing challenges, and the need for continued action in prevention, treatment, and research, aligning with United Nations goals to eliminate AIDS as a public health threat.

Key Provisions

The resolution includes a detailed preamble outlining HIV/AIDS statistics, historical efforts, and disparities, followed by 13 specific directives for the House of Representatives:

Encourage global goals: Promote zero new HIV transmissions, zero discrimination, and zero AIDS-related deaths worldwide by 2030.
Promote awareness: Urge governments and organizations to share information on U=U (Undetectable=Untransmittable), a scientific fact that people with HIV on effective treatment cannot sexually transmit the virus.
Commend U.S. programs: Recognize achievements of domestic initiatives like the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (which provides care for uninsured or underinsured people with HIV), the Minority HIV/AIDS Initiative, and agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institutes of Health (NIH), and others.
Praise international efforts: Highlight successes of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR, a U.S.-led program saving millions of lives globally), the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (to which the U.S. is the largest donor), and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS.
Support funding and access: Call for sustained funding for prevention, care, treatment, and research, including scaling up antiretroviral therapy (medications to manage HIV), preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP, a preventive medication reducing HIV risk by 99% when taken as prescribed), and addressing disparities for children and vulnerable groups.
Focus on prevention and vulnerabilities: Advocate for comprehensive prevention services, new long-acting PrEP options, and attention to at-risk populations like women, girls, men who have sex with men, transgender individuals, older adults, and those affected by substance use or comorbidities (co-occurring health issues like tuberculosis).
Promote research and leadership: Support NIH-led research for vaccines, cures, and treatments; encourage U.S. leadership in domestic and global responses; and urge international contributions and shared responsibility from developing countries.
Emphasize community involvement: Call for civil society input, transparency, and accountability in HIV policies.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This is a non-binding resolution, so it introduces no legal changes or new mandates. It reaffirms and builds on existing laws and programs, such as the Ryan White CARE Act (1990, reauthorized in 2009) and PEPFAR (established in 2003), without altering their structure or funding requirements.

Potential Impacts

On government agencies: Encourages federal, state, and local public health bodies (e.g., CDC, NIH) to prioritize HIV education, funding, and equitable services, potentially influencing budget allocations and program expansions without enforceable requirements.
On citizens: Raises awareness among U.S. populations, especially disproportionately affected groups (e.g., communities of color, Southern states, LGBTQ+ individuals), promoting stigma reduction and access to testing, treatment, and prevention to lower new diagnoses (over 39,000 in the U.S. in 2023).
On international relations: Reinforces U.S. leadership in global health, supporting PEPFAR (which has treated 20.6 million people and prevented 7.8 million infant infections) and the Global Fund (saving 70 million lives), potentially strengthening diplomatic ties and encouraging other nations to increase contributions for sustainable HIV responses.

Main Stakeholders Affected

People living with HIV/AIDS: Over 1.2 million in the U.S. and 40.8 million globally (as of 2024), including children, older adults, and those unaware of their status (13% in the U.S.).
Disproportionately impacted communities: Racial and ethnic minorities (e.g., Black, Hispanic, Asian Americans, Native populations), men who have sex with men, transgender individuals, women and girls facing violence or discrimination, people who inject drugs, and residents of nonurban or Southern U.S. areas.
U.S. government and organizations: Agencies like CDC, NIH, and Health and Human Services; programs like Ryan White and PEPFAR; and bipartisan lawmakers supporting HIV initiatives.
International entities: Global Fund, United Nations programs, developing countries relying on U.S. aid, and civil society groups advocating for transparency and community-led responses.
Healthcare providers and researchers: Involved in scaling treatments, PrEP, and vaccine development.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

Legal: As a simple resolution, it has no force of law but signals congressional intent, potentially guiding executive branch priorities (e.g., PEPFAR reauthorization) and influencing future appropriations without violating separation of powers.
Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's role in foreign affairs and interstate commerce (Article I), supporting public health without infringing on individual rights; promotes anti-discrimination goals consistent with equal protection principles.
Political: Demonstrates bipartisan support (introduced by a diverse group of representatives) for HIV efforts, marking the 22nd anniversary of PEPFAR in 2025 and emphasizing collective action on World AIDS Day. It underscores the need for sustained funding amid challenges like structural barriers and the opioid crisis, potentially shaping public discourse and policy debates on global health equity.

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

Sponsor

Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2]

Cosponsors (16)

Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44], Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26], Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9], Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2], Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5], Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7], Rep. Soto, Darren [D-FL-9], Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13], Rep. Torres, Ritchie [D-NY-15], Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7], Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12]

Recent Actions

2025-12-02: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
2025-12-02: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
2025-12-02: Submitted in House
2025-12-02: Submitted in House

Bill Versions

Commemorating and supporting the goals of World AIDS Day. — issued 2025-12-02 — PDF (9 pages)