{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-johnson-meng-lee-push-recognize-sept-9-national-african-immigrant", "Reps. Johnson, Meng, Lee Push to Recognize Sept. 9 as National African Immigrant & Refugee HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis Awareness (NAIRHHA) Day", "2022-09-09", "2022", "2022-09", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Henry C. \"Hank\" Johnson, Jr.", "J000288", "hankjohnson.house.gov", "hankjohnson", "https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Hepatitis Caucus Co-Chairs Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04), Congresswoman Grace Meng (NY-06), along with HIV/AIDS Caucus Chair Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13), sent a letter with 11 House colleagues to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services requesting support for the designation of September 9th as \"National African Immigrant and Refugee HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis Awareness (NAIRHHA) Day.\"\n\nThe letter seeks to raise awareness for HIV and viral hepatitis testing, diagnosis, care, and treatment for immigrants of African descent, who suffer HIV infection rates six times higher than the national average, and face the highest average chronic hepatitis B rates in the country with approximately 10 percent of people in these communities living with hepatitis B.\n\nThe letter states: \"Federal recognition of NAIRHHA Day will bring increased awareness and attention to the health issues of HIV/AIDS and viral hepatitis in African immigrant and refugee populations in the U.S. NAIRHHA Day will help to eliminate the pervasive stigma surrounding HIV and hepatitis in these communities by encouraging screenings, treatment, and hepatitis B vaccination. No existing HIV/AIDS awareness day addresses the distinct factors influencing the high rates of HIV and viral hepatitis among African immigrants and refugees.\"\n\nRead the full letter HERE and below.\n\nCo-signers include Representatives: Judy Chu (CA-27); David Cicilline; Pramila Jayapal (WA-07); Mondaire Jones (NY-17); Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC); Ayanna Pressley (MA-07); Jamie Raskin (MD-08); Jan Schakowsky (IL-09); Nikema Williams (GA-05).\n\nThe Honorable Rachel L. Levine, MD\n\nAssistant Secretary for Health\n\nU.S. Department of Health and Human Services\n\n200 Independence Avenue, S.W.\n\nWashington, D.C. 20201\n\nDear Admiral Levine,\n\nWe write to request your support for the designation of September 9th as \"National\n\nAfrican Immigrant and Refugee HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis Awareness (NAIRHHA) Day.\" As you\n\nmay be aware, the number of African immigrants and refugees living in the United States has\n\ndoubled every decade since 1970, reaching more than two million in 2018, according to the U.S.\n\nCensus Bureau. HIV infection rates are six times higher in the African immigrant population\n\nthan in that of the U.S. as a whole and are nearly twice those of U.S.-born Black individuals.\n\nAdditionally, African immigrants face the highest average chronic hepatitis B rates in the\n\ncountry, with approximately 10 percent of people in these communities living with hepatitis B.\n\nThe CDC recommends that individuals born in Africa, or individuals born in the U.S. who have\n\nat least one parent born in Africa, who were not vaccinated at birth, should be prioritized for\n\nhepatitis B testing.\n\nDespite these recommendations and high disease burden, African immigrant communities\n\nface significant challenges to HIV and viral hepatitis testing, diagnosis, care, and treatment.\n\nChallenges include stigma, fear, lack of awareness and knowledge, language barriers,\n\nimmigration status, social and economic marginalization, and limited access to health care\n\nservices. Often, care is inaccessible due to language and cultural barriers. Given that HIV and\n\nhepatitis B and C are preventable and treatable conditions, we believe that, with appropriate\n\nattention and focus, health outcomes among African immigrant communities can be improved\n\nand lives can be saved.\n\nFederal recognition of NAIRHHA Day will bring increased awareness and attention to\n\nthe health issues of HIV/AIDS and viral hepatitis in African immigrant and refugee populations\n\nin the U.S. NAIRHHA Day will help to eliminate the pervasive stigma surrounding HIV and\n\nhepatitis in these communities by encouraging screenings, treatment, and hepatitis B vaccination.\n\nNo existing HIV/AIDS awareness day addresses the distinct factors influencing the high rates of\n\nHIV and viral hepatitis among African immigrants and refugees.\n\nWe appreciate your consideration of this important issue and look forward to working\n\nwith you as we continue this effort to promote increased awareness, testing, prevention, and\n\ntreatment of viral hepatitis and HIV/AIDS among African immigrant and refugee communities in\n\nthe U.S. It is time for us to recognize NAIRHHA Day.\n\nSincerely,\n\nRep. Hank Johnson, Rep. Grace Meng, Rep. Barbara Lee & Members of Congress", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-johnson-meng-lee-push-recognize-sept-9-national-african-immigrant"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.5450650826096535, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}