Skip to main content


U.S. flag
      An official website of the United States government
              Here’s how you know
        Here’s how you knowDot gov**Official websites use .gov**
                 A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
                  HTTPS**Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                 A **lock** (A locked padlock) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. 
  Menu Close
          Enter the terms you wish to search for.
    Search
        








  
  
    

  
      

                                      About HHS
    
                        
                              
      
      
      Programs & Services
    
                        
                              
      
      
      Grants & Contracts
    
                        
                              
      
      
      Laws & Regulations Breadcrumb
    Home
                              About
                              News
                              Readout of HHS Secretary Becerra’s Roundtable with National Black Leaders Commemorating Black History Month
 Navigate to:
  News
    
                                    
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Blog
    
                                    
                                            
            
      
      
      
      HHS Live
    
                                    
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Podcasts
    
                                    
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Media Guidelines for HHS EmployeesText resize icon

                    




**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 15, 2024**

        **Contact: 
                                    HHS Press Office**
          202-690-6343media@hhs.gov

          Readout of HHS Secretary Becerra’s Roundtable with National Black Leaders Commemorating Black History Month
    
    

      *Secretary Becerra reiterated HHS's commitment to continued partnerships to improve health outcomes in the Black community.*

On Wednesday, February 14, 2024, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra met with leaders from national Black civil rights, faith-based, and health organizations to discuss efforts to improve health and human services outcomes in the Black community and further advance health equity. This meeting builds upon a series of conversations and engagements between Black community leaders and HHS.

During the roundtable, Secretary Becerra highlighted the important work being done by the Biden-Harris Administration to improve access to health care, lower health care costs, increase behavioral health investments, address environmental health hazards, strengthen supports for children and families, and further connect organizations to available HHS resources. Secretary Becerra expressed his appreciation to the Black leaders at the roundtable and reiterated that HHS will continue to work closely with them to address shared priorities.

HHS has undertaken several noteworthy initiatives to improve health and human services outcomes for the Black community as part of the Biden Harris Administration’s Bipartisan Unity Agenda. These include reducing the cost of prescription drugs through the Inflation Reduction Act, increasing health coverage for Black Americans through the Affordable Care Act, providing $468 million in funding opportunities to address disparities in maternal and infant health, launching the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, and ensuring the ready availability of COVID-19 vaccines and test kits within the Black community. Additionally, HHS has taken action to strengthen the health care workforce pipeline to support health care workers and create career advancement opportunities with a strong focus on equity and cultural competency. Furthermore, HHS has strengthened civil rights protections for patients in federally funded health programs.

More details on how HHS is advancing health equity for Black Americans can be viewed here.

The following individuals participated in the meeting:

Jacqueline Ayers, Senior Vice President of Policy, Organizing, and Campaigns, Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA)
	Osub Ahmed, Policy Officer, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
	Tona Boyd, Associate-Director Counsel, NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund
	Theo W. Braddy, Executive Director, The National Council on Independent Living
	Paul A. Brathwaite, Chief Strategist, Federal Street Strategies
	Jacqui L. Burton, President and Senior Vice President of Policy, Organizing, and Campaigns, Conference of National Black Churches
	Alicia Butler, Health and Wellness Policy Advisor, National Action Network
	Joi Olivia Chaney, Founder, J.O.I Strategies
	Lydia A. Isaac, Vice President of Health Equity & Policy, National Urban League (NUL)
	Yolanda Lawson, President, National Medical Association
	Jerrica Mathis, Vice President, Federal Government Relations, Cardinal Health
	Jesselyn McCurdy, Executive Vice President for Government Affairs, The Leadership Conference of Civil and Human Rights
	Dariely Rodriguez, Deputy Chief Counsel, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
	Reverend Matthew Lawrence Watley Founder and Senior Pastor, Kingdom Fellowship AME Church
  

    ###
    Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other news materials are available at https://www.hhs.gov/news.Like HHS on Facebook, follow HHS on Twitter @HHSgov, and sign up for HHS Email Updates.Last revised: February 15, 2024

  
  
  







  Sign Up for Email Updates

Receive the latest updates from the Secretary, Blogs, and News Releases

Sign Up







  Subscribe to RSS
    

      Receive latest updates







  Related News Releases
    

      Statements by HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra and HHS Principals on Pride Month
  

Readout of HHS Secretary Becerra’s In-Person Roundtable Meeting with Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Leaders
  

Statement from HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra on Older Americans Month







  Related Blog Posts
    

      OCR Celebrates Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
  

Celebrating the Importance of Second Chance Month
  

Syphilis Is a Public Health Priority

                    
  


Media Inquiries

For general media inquiries, please contact media@hhs.gov.







  Content created by Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs (ASPA) Content last reviewed February 15, 2024 Back to top
    Contact HHS
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Careers
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      HHS FAQs
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Nondiscrimination NoticeHHS Archive
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Accessibility Statement
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Privacy Policy
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Viewers & PlayersBudget/Performance
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Inspector General
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Web Site Disclaimers
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      EEO/No Fear ActFOIA
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      The White House
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      USA.gov
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
        Sign Up for Email Updates

Receive the latest updates from the Secretary, Blogs, and News Releases.

Sign Up
  HHS Headquarters
          200 Independence Avenue, S.W.
                  Washington, D.C. 20201
                  Toll Free Call Center: 1-877-696-6775​