IV

107TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 78

Expressing the sense of the Congress that there should be established a

National Minority Health Month.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

MARCH 22, 2001

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN (for herself, Mrs. MEEK of Florida, Mr. PAYNE, Mr. CLYBURN, Mr. BISHOP, Ms. NORTON, Mr. DAVIS of Illinois, Mr. TOWNS, and

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of the Congress that there should be

established a National Minority Health Month.

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 is a crisis of minority health, consisting of

continuing disparities in the burden of illness and death

experienced by African-Americans, Hispanics, Native
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Americans, Alaska Natives, Asians, and Pacific Islanders,

compared to the United States population as a whole;

Whereas minorities suffer more than 60,000 excess deaths

annually, compared to nonminorities;

Whereas minorities are more likely than nonminorities to die

from cancer, cardiovascular disease, stroke, chemical dependency, diabetes, infant mortality, violence, and, in recent years, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome;

Whereas minority populations are not benefiting equitably

from advances in medical research and technology;

Whereas minority populations face substantial cultural, social, and economic barriers to obtaining access to and delivery of health care;

Whereas minorities have made significant contributions to the

United States, yet are underrepresented in the health

care professions;

Whereas the crisis in minority health results in losses of billions of dollars by the United States because of reduced

productivity and increased health care expenditures; and

Whereas the establishment of a National Minority Health

Month for the month of April would encourage all health

organizations in the United States to host activities to

promote healthfulness in minority communities: 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) there should be established a National Mi4 nority Health Month;

5 (2) the President should issue a proclamation—
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1 (A) encouraging all health organizations in

2 the United States to host activities to promote

3 healthfulness in minority communities; and

4 (B) calling upon the people of the United

5 States to observe such a month with appro6 priate programs and activities;

7 (3) in conjunction with such a month, the Sec8 retary of Health and Human Services should—

9 (A) make information available to the

10 public—

11 (i) on the health problems currently

12 facing minority populations; and

13 (ii) on the careers and contributions

14 of minority health professionals; and

15 (B) present public service announcements

16 on health promotion and disease prevention

17 among minorities in the United States;

18 (4) there is a crisis in minority health, con19 sisting of continuing disparities in the burden of ill20 ness and death experienced by minorities compared

21 to the population of the United States as a whole

22 and the population of nonminorities;

23 (5) public awareness of the effects of the crisis

24 in minority health should be increased;
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1 (6) minority representation in the health care

2 professions should be increased;

3 (7) greater Federal appropriations should be

4 made for activities directed toward improving the

5 health of minorities in the United States, particu6 larly health research and education; and

7 (8) targeted health promotion and disease pre8 vention initiatives should be presented in a manner

9 that is culturally sensitive to minority populations.

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