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[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1591 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1591

Recognizing the Black Barbershop Health Outreach Program's contribution 
  to the national fight against health disparities through education, 
  community involvement, research, and culturally relevant strategies 
 that seek to improve health outcomes in Black communities across the 
                                country.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 30, 2010

Mr. Hastings of Florida (for himself, Ms. Corrine Brown of Florida, Ms. 
 Moore of Wisconsin, Mr. Payne, Ms. Richardson, Mrs. Christensen, Mr. 
Rush, Mr. Thompson of Mississippi, Ms. Edwards of Maryland, Mr. Johnson 
 of Georgia, Mr. Cummings, Mr. Towns, Mr. Meek of Florida, Mr. Rangel, 
Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas, Mr. Davis of Illinois, Mr. Al Green 
of Texas, Ms. Norton, and Mr. Clay) submitted the following resolution; 
       which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
Recognizing the Black Barbershop Health Outreach Program's contribution 
  to the national fight against health disparities through education, 
  community involvement, research, and culturally relevant strategies 
 that seek to improve health outcomes in Black communities across the 
                                country.

Whereas cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and diabetes are leading causes of 
        death and disability in the United States, and cost hundreds of billions 
        of dollars in health services, medication, and lost productivity each 
        year;
Whereas many individuals experience more than one of these health conditions 
        simultaneously, increasing the probability that they will develop 
        additional related health conditions, experience complications as a 
        result of such conditions, or die prematurely;
Whereas cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and diabetes are largely 
        preventable and manageable through appropriate health education, 
        healthier lifestyle habits, proper adherence to medication and treatment 
        regimens, and routine utilization of primary care;
Whereas educational, cultural, social, genetic, environmental, and economic 
        factors (including inadequate access to quality health care services) 
        contribute to disproportionately high rates of hypertension and diabetes 
        among African-Americans, and to the increased risk of complications, 
        comorbidities, and death that accompany these conditions;
Whereas non-Hispanic Blacks living in the United States have the highest 
        prevalence of hypertension in the world;
Whereas non-Hispanic Blacks are the most likely to develop diabetes and to 
        suffer from the complications that can result from untreated or 
        unmanaged diabetes (including amputation, blindness, kidney failure, and 
        end-stage renal disease);
Whereas although non-Hispanic Blacks are less likely to be diagnosed with heart 
        disease, they are more likely than other groups in the United States 
        to--

    (1) die from cardiovascular disease; and

    (2) experience complications resulting from the disease;

Whereas African-American men are especially vulnerable to the impacts of racial 
        health disparities, as reflected by the fact that Black men have the 
        lowest average life expectancy of any group in the United States;
Whereas a lack of trust, cultural barriers, and other barriers to accessing 
        routine primary care have prevented many Black men from significantly 
        benefitting from interventions and treatments that were designed to 
        diagnose, manage, and prevent cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and 
        hypertension;
Whereas culturally competent health education and delivery methods are essential 
        to--

    (1) preventing and combating racial health disparities; and

    (2) maximizing the effectiveness of current and future treatments and 
resources that are intended to achieve and support better health in 
African-American communities;

Whereas historically, there have been few widespread, well-funded, and well-
        known projects or institutions that use culturally relevant and 
        scientifically based strategies and models to focus on improving health 
        education, awareness, and outcomes for Black men;
Whereas Black-owned barbershops have served as cultural institutions in the 
        Black community for generations, regularly attract large and diverse 
        groups of Black men, and provide health advocates with an opportunity to 
        empower and educate Black men about health issues in a trusted and 
        familiar space;
Whereas in December 2007, the Diabetic Amputation Prevention Foundation launched 
        the Black Barbershop Health Outreach Program to increase public 
        awareness about cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and hypertension among 
        Black men by partnering with Black-owned barbershops, and local leaders, 
        facilities, and organizations, to provide culturally specific education 
        and health services to Black men;
Whereas the Black Barbershop Health Outreach Program addresses cardiovascular 
        disease, hypertension, and diabetes in Black men by--

    (1) providing screening for hypertension and diabetes;

    (2) disseminating information on early detection, management, and 
prevention of such conditions;

    (3) producing innovative and scientifically based research; and

    (4) referring men to facilities that can address additional health and 
medical needs;

Whereas the Black Barbershop Health Outreach Program expanded its focus from 
        hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease to include prostate cancer, 
        which African-American men are more likely to develop and die from than 
        any other group in the United States;
Whereas the Black Barbershop Health Outreach Program has screened over 10,000 
        men in 230 Black-owned barbershops for diabetes, hypertension, and 
        prostate cancer across the country since December 2007;
Whereas the Black Barbershop Health Outreach Program plans to screen 20,000 men 
        in 2010 and 500,000 men by 2012;
Whereas the health status of family members and spouses of Black men, and their 
        environment, culture, and daily habits can--

    (1) play a large role in determining the risk that a Black man will 
develop cardiovascular disease, hypertension, or diabetes; and

    (2) provide opportunities for executing sustainable solutions to these 
conditions; and

Whereas the Black Barbershop Health Outreach Program will also target Black-
        owned beauty shops to reach Black women, and take a holistic approach to 
        diagnosing, preventing, and managing cardiovascular disease, 
        hypertension, and diabetes in the Black community: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) commends the Black Barbershop Health Outreach Program 
        for its valuable contribution to community health and the 
        national fight against racial health disparities;
            (2) expresses the need to support organizations, programs, 
        and initiatives that--
                    (A) use culturally relevant education and 
                scientifically based research; and
                    (B) partner with local networks and resources to 
                empower individuals to become informed health advocates 
                in their communities; and
            (3) expresses a commitment to support community-oriented 
        approaches to health reform in health legislation and 
        initiatives arising at both the State and Federal levels.
                                 <all>
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