I

107TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. R. 1218

To provide for an African American Health Initiative under which demonstration projects conduct targeted health campaigns directed at high-risk

African American populations.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

MARCH 27, 2001

Mr. BACA introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee

on Energy and Commerce

A BILL

To provide for an African American Health Initiative under

which demonstration projects conduct targeted health

campaigns directed at high-risk African American populations.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘African American

5 Health Initiative Act of 2001’’.

6 SEC. 2. AFRICAN AMERICAN HEALTH INITIATIVE.

7 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Health and

8 Human Services (in this section referred to as the ‘‘Sec-
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1 retary’’) may make grants to public entities or nonprofit

2 private community organizations for the purpose of car3 rying out five demonstration projects to conduct targeted

4 health campaigns directed at high-risk African American

5 populations. Activities carried out by such a project shall

6 include the following:

7 (1) Planning, organizing, and conducting a

8 symposium of all major elements of the community

9 to identify the best ways to reach and influence Afri10 can American individuals in the community.

11 (2) Designing culturally-relevant public health

12 messages and health care communication directed at

13 the African American community to change atti14 tudes toward health care.

15 (3) Creating effective outreach programs and

16 teaching tools that will reduce the health risks of the

17 African American community.

18 In making such grants, the Secretary shall provide for an

19 education program for health care providers in San

20 Bernardino County, in the State of California, that will

21 facilitate increased utilization of area health services by

22 the African American community.

23 (b) GOALS OF PROJECT.—The goals of projects

24 under subsection (a) shall be to accomplish, over a five25 year period, the following:
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1 (1) To reduce by 15 percent the incidence of

2 sudden infant death syndrome (commonly known as

3 SIDS).

4 (2) To increase the incidence of proper diag5 nosis and control of hypertension to minimize stroke,

6 renal failure, and congestive heart failure among the

7 African American population.

8 (3) To reduce the incidence of death due to

9 prostate cancer by increasing the number of African

10 American men screened and referred for treatment.

11 (4) To increase by 5 percent the number of Af12 rican Americans who have health insurance and have

13 a primary care doctor.

14 (5) To increase by 3 percent the number of Af15 rican Americans who pledge to be organ and tissue

16 donors.

17 (c) PROJECT AREAS.—Subject to the availability of

18 appropriations, projects under subsection (a) shall be car19 ried out in five separate counties (or other political sub20 divisions), of which three shall be in urban areas and two

21 shall be in rural areas.

22 (d) REPORTS.—Not later than June 1, 2008, the Sec23 retary shall submit to the Congress a report describing

24 the projects carried out under subsection (a) and evalu-
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1 ating the extent to which the projects have met the goals

2 under subsection (b).

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