IV

106TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. CON. RES. 325

Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the need to more appropriately

address the health and well-being of Hispanic adolescent girls and endorsing the findings and recommendations of the National Coalition of Hispanic Health and Human Services Organizations (COSSMHO) now

known as the National Alliance for Hispanic Health.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

MAY 11, 2000

Mrs. NAPOLITANO (for herself, Mr. GREEN of Texas, Mr. SERRANO, Mr.

RODRIGUEZ, Mr. HINOJOSA, Mr. GONZALEZ, Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD, Mr.

PASTOR, Mr. HILL of Indiana, Mr. LARSON, Ms. DELAURO, Mr.

BLAGOJEVICH, Ms. BERKLEY, MS. MILLENDER-MCDONALD, Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas, Mr. CROWLEY, Mr. MOORE, Mrs. JONES of Ohio, Mr.

BAIRD, Mr. BACA, Mr. GUTIERREZ, Mr. ORTIZ, Mr. REYES, Mr. ABERCROMBIE, Mr. MARTINEZ, Ms. CARSON, Ms. VELA ́

ZQUEZ, Mr. MENENDEZ, Mr. BECERRA, Mr. UNDERWOOD, Mr. ROMERO-BARCELO ́

, Ms.

SANCHEZ, Ms. WATERS, Mr. HORN, Mr. CALVERT, Mrs. BONO, Mr.

BILBRAY, Mr. FILNER, Mr. BERMAN, and Mr. DREIER) submitted the

following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on

Commerce

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the need to

more appropriately address the health and well-being

of Hispanic adolescent girls and endorsing the findings

and recommendations of the National Coalition of Hispanic Health and Human Services Organizations

(COSSMHO) now known as the National Alliance for

Hispanic Health.
2

•HCON 325 IH

Whereas Hispanic adolescent girls (Latinas) now represent

the largest minority group of girls in the country and are

expected to remain so for the next fifty years;

Whereas the four most serious threats to the health and education of American girls today are depression, substance

abuse, pregnancy, and delinquency;

Whereas recent data from the ‘‘State of Hispanic Girls’’ by

the National Alliance for Hispanic Health indicate that

these four threats are more prevalent among Hispanic

girls than their non-Hispanic counterparts;

Whereas the report also shows that a significant minority of

Hispanic girls also lead girls nationwide in rates of suicide attempts, teenage pregnancy, alcohol and drug abuse

and self-reported gun possession;

Whereas much more can be done by community based organizations in tandem with the local school system, law enforcement, social service agencies, including mental

health clinics, to address these issues and provide the

support needed by Hispanic adolescent girls and their

families to reverse these trends;

Whereas many of these girls are adversely affected by cultural expectations, the pressures of acculturation and the

lack of self-esteem and are unable to find appropriate

support services by trained bilingual, bicultural professionals to deal with the identified major threats to their

health and well-being;

Whereas data also indicate that Hispanic girls have higher

dropout rates than any other racial or ethnic group of

girls, in part due to their high rate of teen pregnancy;
3

•HCON 325 IH

Whereas the report also notes another alarming finding: that

fewer prevention and treatment services reach these girls

than reach girls in any other racial or ethnic group; and

Whereas the Congress is the appropriate governmental institution to develop a national agenda in tandem with the

states to address these concerns and provide both the

funds and leadership necessary to implement innovative

and constructive programs to address the crisis for Hispanic adolescent girls and allow these girls to become

self-confident, successful women and contributing members of society: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate

2 concurring), That it is the sense of the Congress that—

3 (1) the recommendations contained in the re4 port ‘‘The State of Hispanic Girls’’ be endorsed and

5 implemented to address the crisis facing Hispanic

6 adolescent girls as it relates to their physical and

7 mental health needs;

8 (2) more resources be provided through Federal

9 grants and other mechanisms to community-based

10 partnerships and innovative programs designed to

11 promote the health and well-being of Hispanic ado12 lescent girls at risk;

13 (3) programs and services addressing the needs

14 of Hispanic adolescent girls be given in a way that

15 is culturally, linguistically and developmentally ap16 propriate;
4

•HCON 325 IH

1 (4) the Substance Abuse and Mental Health

2 Services Administration (SAMHSA), the National

3 Alliance for Hispanic Health and other public and

4 private entities that have worked diligently and coop5 eratively to address the needs of Hispanic adolescent

6 girls be commended for their efforts and leadership

7 and encouraged to continue so that more of these

8 girls reach their true potential;

9 (5) Federal, State and local agencies in ad10 dressing the needs of Hispanic adolescent girls be

11 encouraged to form innovative partnerships with

12 community based organizations, schools and law en13 forcement to help ensure that resources are allocated

14 in a way to ensure their most efficient and effective

15 use in the community; and

16 (6) in providing services to adolescent girls at

17 risk, family involvement and support must be consid18 ered fundamental.

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