H. Con. Res. 388 Agreed to October 3, 2002

One Hundred Seventh Congress

of the

United States of America

AT THE SECOND SESSION

Begun and held at the City of Washington on Wednesday,

the twenty-third day of January, two thousand and two

Concurrent Resolution

Whereas in 2000, the Surgeon General of the Public Health Service

announced as a goal the elimination by 2010 of health disparities

experienced by racial and ethnic minorities in health access and

outcome in 6 areas: infant mortality, cancer screening, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

and human immunodeficiency virus infection, and immunizations;

Whereas despite notable progress in the overall health of the Nation

there are continuing health disparities in the burden of illness

and death experienced by African-Americans, Hispanics, Native

Americans, Alaska Natives, Asians, and Pacific Islanders, compared to the United States population as a whole;

Whereas minorities are more likely to die from cancer, cardiovascular disease, stroke, chemical dependency, diabetes, infant

mortality, violence, and, in recent years, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome;

Whereas there is a national need for scientists in the fields of

biomedical, clinical, behavioral, and health services research to

focus on how best to eliminate health disparities;

Whereas individuals such as underrepresented minorities and

women in the workforce enable society to address its diverse

needs; and

Whereas behavioral and social sciences research has increased

awareness and understanding of factors associated with health

care utilization and access, patient attitudes toward health services, and risk and protective behaviors that affect health and

illness, and these factors have the potential to be modified to

help close the health disparities gap among ethnic minority populations: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That it is the sense of the Congress that—

(1) a National Minority Health and Health Disparities

Month should be established to promote educational efforts

on the health problems currently facing minorities and other

health disparity populations;

(2) the Secretary of Health and Human services should,

as authorized by the Minority Health and Health Disparities

Research and Education Act of 2000, present public service

announcements on health promotion and disease prevention

among minorities and other health disparity populations in

the United States and educate the public and health care

professionals about health disparities;
H. Con. Res. 388—2

(3) the President should issue a proclamation recognizing

the immediate need to reduce health disparities in the United

States and encouraging all health organizations and Americans

to conduct appropriate programs and activities to promote

healthfulness in minority and other health disparity communities;

(4) Federal, State, and local governments should work in

concert with the private and nonprofit sector to emphasize

the recruitment and retention of qualified individuals from

racial, ethnic, and gender groups that are currently underrepresented in health care professions;

(5) the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality should

continue to collect and report data on health care access and

utilization on patients by race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status,

and where possible, primary language, as authorized by the

Minority Health and Health Disparities Research and Education Act of 2000, to monitor the Nation’s progress toward

the elimination of health care disparities; and

(6) the information gained from research about factors associated with health care utilization and access, patient attitudes

toward health services, and risk and protective behaviors that

affect health and illness, should be disseminated to all health

care professionals so that they may better communicate with

all patients, regardless of race or ethnicity, without bias or

prejudice.

Attest:

Clerk of the House of Representatives.

Attest:

Secretary of the Senate.