HR0934 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0934 LRB093 22146 KEF 50917 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives recognize that Tuesday, May 18th is HIV Vaccine Awareness Day; and

WHEREAS, 46 million people around the world are living with HIV/AIDS; and

WHEREAS, The worldwide epidemic killed more than 3 million people this year and infected another 5 million with HIV; and

WHEREAS, There are more than 35,000 people living with HIV in Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Communities of color are disproportionately impacted by HIV/AIDS; and

WHEREAS, Community support for the development of an HIV vaccine is essential; and

WHEREAS, Thousands of volunteers, scientists, and health professionals are committed to finding a safe and effective HIV vaccine, and more than 12,000 individuals have already volunteered in HIV vaccine clinical trials; and

WHEREAS, We must educate Americans about the ongoing search for a vaccine to prevent the transmission of HIV and the critical need for such a vaccine; and

WHEREAS, Currently, there is no HIV vaccine available, but many scientists believe that a preventive HIV vaccine can be a reality; and

WHEREAS, A preventive HIV vaccine is a critical component of ending the AIDS pandemic; and

WHEREAS, A large scale HIV vaccine trial will require thousands more participants of all races and ethnicities, genders and socioeconomic backgrounds, to ensure that the vaccine is effective; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we recognize Tuesday, May 18, 2004, as HIV Vaccine Awareness Day, and commend the hard work of all scientists, community organizations, and individuals working to produce a vaccine and help bring about a world without AIDS.