SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Health Equity and 
Middle Eastern and North African Community Inclusion 
Act of 2025’’ or the ‘‘Health Equity and MENA Commu-
nity Inclusion Act of 2025’’. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITION. 
In this Act, the terms ‘‘Middle Eastern and North 
African’’ or ‘‘MENA’’, with respect to individuals or popu-
lations, includes individuals or populations who identify 
with or belong to one or more nationalities or ethnic 
groups originating in a country (or portion thereof) in the 
Middle Eastern and North African region (such as Leba-
nese, 
Iranians, 
Egyptians, 
Moroccans, 
Yemenis, 
Chaldeans, Imazighen, Kurds, Palestinians, and Yazidis). 
SEC. 3. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) On March 28, 2024, the Office of Manage-
ment and Budget formally recognized Middle East-
ern and North African populations in Statistical Pol-
icy Directive Number 15 (in this section referred to 
as ‘‘SPD 15’’), which established, since its issuance 
in 1977, the minimum standards for the collection, 
management, and presentation of data on race and 
ethnicity. 
(2) In 1985, the Secretary of Health and 
Human Services produced a ‘‘Report on Black and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:22 Jan 14, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6767.IH
H6767
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
Minority Health’’, which analyzed persistent health 
differences between the general population and the 
non-White populations recognized in SPD 15 and 
served as the basis for the foundation of the Office 
of Minority Health (in this section referred to as the 
‘‘OMH’’). 
(3) Through the establishment of the OMH in 
1986, the Secretary of Health and Human Services 
has developed health policies and programs that 
eliminate health disparities and improve the health 
of racial and ethnic minority populations. 
(4) Congress has funded the OMH to ensure 
improved health status of racial and ethnic minori-
ties, and to develop measures to evaluate the effec-
tiveness of activities aimed at reducing health dis-
parities and supporting the local community. The ac-
tivities of the OMH have addressed health dispari-
ties, including with respect to physical activity and 
nutrition, clinical conditions, individual social needs, 
and the social determinants of health for ‘‘racial and 
ethnic minority groups’’. 
(5) Before the amendments made by this Act, 
section 1707(g)(1) of the Public Health Service Act 
(42 U.S.C. 300u–6(g)(1)) defined the term ‘‘racial 
and ethnic minority group’’ (for whom the OMH 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:22 Jan 14, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6767.IH
H6767
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
works to improve health outcomes and eliminate 
health disparities) to exclude Middle Easterners and 
North Africans, and thereby prevented MENA popu-
lations from accessing critical resources intended to 
assist historically marginalized communities. 
(6) Independent researchers and private sector 
research initiatives have found significant health dis-
parities between MENA individuals and the non- 
Hispanic White population, as well as significant 
overlap between the health outcomes and health con-
ditions of MENA individuals and those of other ra-
cial and ethnic minority groups. 
(7) Poor health outcomes are often connected to 
impoverishment in other aspects of life and are exac-
erbated by additional barriers to access high-quality 
health coverage, whether in terms of language, eligi-
bility, health literacy, or discrimination at the point- 
of-service. 
(8) A recent study published in the journal, 
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 
suggested that MENA individuals are not perceived 
as White and do not perceive themselves as White. 
(9) Research on the health outcomes and health 
conditions of MENA individuals is troubling and 
suggests that efforts must be made on the Federal 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:22 Jan 14, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6767.IH
H6767
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
level to disaggregate the demographic data of 
MENA individuals from the demographic data of in-
dividuals in the non-Hispanic White category and 
fully understand the social determinants of health 
for health disparities and outcomes experienced by 
MENA individuals. 
(10) MENA individuals are not included among 
the groups for whom the OMH works to improve 
health outcomes and eliminate health disparities, 
which further limits the opportunity of MENA indi-
viduals to access programs designed to address their 
experiences and health conditions. 
(11) The OMH could better assess and elimi-
nate health disparities by conducting a comprehen-
sive study of the health of MENA individuals and 
recognizing MENA individuals as a racial and ethnic 
minority group. 
SEC. 4. INCLUSION OF MIDDLE EASTERNERS AND NORTH 
AFRICANS IN DEFINITION OF RACIAL AND 
ETHNIC MINORITY GROUPS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1707(g)(1) of the Public 
Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300u–6(g)(1)) is amended 
by striking ‘‘Blacks; and Hispanics’’ and inserting 
‘‘Blacks or African Americans; Hispanics; and Middle 
Easterners and North Africans’’. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:22 Jan 14, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6767.IH
H6767
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
(b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that subsection (a) should be implemented so as to 
ensure that— 
(1) the definition of a ‘‘racial and ethnic minor-
ity group’’ in section 1707(g)(1) of the Public 
Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300u–6(g)(1)), as 
amended by subsection (a), is applied in the imple-
mentation and execution of Federal programs and 
activities that reference such definition; and 
(2) no racial or ethnic minority group served by 
such programs and activities is negatively impacted 
by the amendment made by subsection (a). 
(c) UNDEFINED REFERENCES.—Not later than 2 
years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary of Health and Human Services shall— 
(1) identify all regulations, guidance, orders, 
and documents of the Department of Health and 
Human Services for establishment or implementa-
tion of a health care or public health program, activ-
ity, or survey that— 
(A) use the term ‘‘racial and ethnic minor-
ity group’’ or similar terminology; and 
(B) do not define such term or termi-
nology; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:22 Jan 14, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6767.IH
H6767
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
(2) take such actions as may be necessary to 
clarify whether the definition of ‘‘racial and ethnic 
minority group’’ in section 1707(g)(1) of the Public 
Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300u–6(g)(1)), as 
amended by subsection (a), applies to such term or 
terminology. 
(d) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 2 years 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
Health and Human Services shall submit to Congress a 
report on the implementation of this section. 
SEC. 5. REPORT ON HEALTH OF MIDDLE EASTERN AND 
NORTH AFRICAN POPULATION. 
(a) STUDY REQUIRED.—The Secretary of Health and 
Human Services (referred to in this section as the ‘‘Sec-
retary’’) shall conduct or support a comprehensive study 
regarding the unique health patterns and outcomes of 
MENA populations. 
(b) REQUIREMENTS FOR STUDY.—The comprehen-
sive study under subsection (a) shall include an enumera-
tion of MENA populations across the United States, 
disaggregated by subpopulation, and with respect to each 
such population and subpopulation— 
(1) the rates of— 
(A) health risk factors, including— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:22 Jan 14, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6767.IH
H6767
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
(i) behaviors, such as tobacco use, ex-
cessive alcohol consumption, physical inac-
tivity, and unhealthy diet; 
(ii) physiological factors, such as obe-
sity, diabetes, high blood pressure, high 
blood sugar, and high cholesterol; 
(iii) environmental factors, such as ex-
posure to toxic chemicals, air and water 
pollution, and unsafe working conditions, 
including prevalence of work-related inju-
ries; 
(iv) genetic factors, such as family 
history of chronic diseases, presence of 
specific gene mutations, and racial and 
ethnic predisposition to certain conditions; 
(v) demographic characteristics, such 
as age, geographic location, and English 
language proficiency; and 
(vi) social determinants of health, 
such as household income, health insurance 
coverage, socioeconomic status, education 
level, housing instability, educational and 
employment opportunities, and access to 
culturally and linguistically appropriate 
service providers; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:22 Jan 14, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6767.IH
H6767
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
(B) prevalence of chronic disease or illness, 
including— 
(i) cancers, such as breast, lung, cer-
vical, prostate, colorectal, liver, stomach, 
and oral cancer; 
(ii) cardiovascular conditions, such as 
heart disease, atrial fibrillation, and stroke; 
(iii) respiratory conditions, such as 
asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary dis-
ease, and lung disease; 
(iv) musculoskeletal conditions, such 
as osteoporosis and carpal tunnel syn-
drome; 
(v) neurological conditions, such as 
Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s and other 
related dementias, epilepsy, and cerebral 
palsy; 
(vi) infectious diseases, such as HIV/ 
AIDS, hepatitis B and C, and tuberculosis; 
and 
(vii) autoimmune diseases, such as 
lupus, multiple sclerosis, ulcerative colitis, 
and rheumatoid arthritis; 
(C) prevalence of disability and disorder, 
including— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:22 Jan 14, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6767.IH
H6767
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
(i) vision impairments, such as blind-
ness and low vision; 
(ii) hearing conditions, such as deaf-
ness and varying degrees of hearing loss; 
(iii) physical impairments, such as 
musculoskeletal 
conditions, 
amputation, 
paralysis, repetitive strain injuries, and 
other conditions that affect movement or 
require assistive devices; 
(iv) intellectual or developmental con-
ditions, such as Down syndrome, Prater- 
Willi syndrome, Angelman syndrome, au-
tism, and attention-deficit/hyperactive dis-
order (ADHD), as well as other conditions 
that affect cognitive abilities, learning, and 
adaptive behaviors; 
(v) mental or behavioral conditions, 
such as depression, anxiety, insomnia, 
sleep apnea, bipolar disorder, schizo-
phrenia, and traumatic brain injury; 
(vi) substance use disorders, such as 
disorders in use of alcohol, opioids, stimu-
lants, and cannabis, and risk factors stem-
ming from such disorders, such as liver 
damage and gastrointestinal issues; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:22 Jan 14, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6767.IH
H6767
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
(vii) genetic or blood disorders, such 
as sickle cell anemia, G6PD deficiency, hy-
pertension, and thalassemia; and 
(viii) endocrine disorders, such as dia-
betes, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), 
and hypothyroidism; 
(D) maternal and reproductive health out-
comes, including maternal morbidity and mor-
tality, infertility, and postpartum depression; 
(E) nutritional health outcomes, including 
malnutrition, vitamin D and iron deficiencies, 
among other vitamin deficiencies; 
(F) child and adolescent health outcomes, 
such as pediatric developmental delays, child-
hood obesity, and early-onset chronic condi-
tions; 
(G) dental and oral health outcomes, in-
cluding tooth loss, gum disease, and tooth 
decay; 
(H) domestic violence, dating violence, sex-
ual assault, sexual harassment, and stalking; 
and 
(I) morbidity and mortality, including the 
rates of morbidity and mortality associated with 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:22 Jan 14, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6767.IH
H6767
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
the rates referenced in subparagraphs (A) 
through (H); 
(2) analysis of— 
(A) the factors and conditions that con-
tribute most to— 
(i) the rates described in paragraph 
(1); and 
(ii) the rates by which MENA sub-
populations reported the outcomes ref-
erenced in subparagraphs (B) and (C) as 
a disease, illness, disorder, or disability; 
(B) the leading causes of morbidity and 
mortality and pregnancy-associated morbidity 
and mortality; 
(C) the extent to which access to health 
care facilities contributes to the associated out-
comes of care, including the rates described in 
paragraph (1); and 
(D) the disparities between MENA sub-
populations and between the aggregate MENA 
population and other racial and ethnic popu-
lations in the rates described in paragraph (1); 
(3) analysis, enumeration, or quantification of 
any other health or health-related parameters the 
Secretary determines necessary; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:22 Jan 14, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00012
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6767.IH
H6767
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
(4) analysis of the extent to which any or all of 
the design, implementation, and evaluation of Fed-
eral health programs contribute to the health fac-
tors, outcomes, and conditions described in para-
graphs (1) through (3). 
(c) CONSULTATION.—The Secretary shall— 
(1) carry out this section in consultation, as ap-
propriate, with the Director of the Census Bureau, 
the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention, the Director of the National Institutes 
of Health, the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health 
and Substance Use, and other stakeholders (includ-
ing community-based organizations); and 
(2) determine through such consultation the 
subpopulations 
to 
be 
used 
for 
purposes 
of 
disaggregation of data pursuant to subsection (b). 
(d) ONLINE PORTAL.—Upon conclusion of the com-
prehensive study under this section, the Secretary shall 
establish a public online portal to catalogue the results of 
the study, its underlying data, and information in the re-
port submitted pursuant to subsection (e)(2). 
(e) REPORTING.— 
(1) INTERIM REPORT.—Not later than 2 years 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary shall submit to Congress a report outlining 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:22 Jan 14, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00013
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6767.IH
H6767
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
the challenges associated with, and progress toward 
implementing, health data collection for MENA pop-
ulations as a distinct category and the plan for com-
pleting a comprehensive study regarding the unique 
health patterns and outcomes of MENA populations. 
(2) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than 30 days 
after the conclusion of the comprehensive study 
under this section, and not later than 2 years after 
the date of submission of the interim report under 
paragraph (1), the Secretary shall submit to Con-
gress a report describing— 
(A) the results of the study conducted 
under this section; and 
(B) the rulemakings and other actions the 
agencies described in subsection (c)(1) can un-
dertake to more equitably include MENA indi-
viduals in their programs, including whether 
and to what extent additional resources are 
needed to increase rates of response among 
MENA populations to Federal health surveys. 
(f) PRIVACY.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—In carrying out the com-
prehensive study under this section, the Secretary 
shall implement robust privacy protections to safe-
guard the personal data of the individuals involved. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:22 Jan 14, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00014
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6767.IH
H6767
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
(2) MINIMUM PROTECTIONS.—The privacy pro-
tections referred to in paragraph (1) include the fol-
lowing: 
(A) Personally identifiable information, 
such as names or addresses, shall not be col-
lected when unnecessary for the purposes of the 
study. 
(B) Any personally identifiable information 
that is collected shall be securely destroyed 
upon completion of the intended use of such in-
formation. 
(C) All privacy protections and data han-
dling procedures shall be clearly communicated 
to any individuals who may be subjects of the 
study, including through informed consent if 
applicable. 
(3) PROHIBITION ON INCLUSION OF PII IN ON-
LINE PORTAL OR REPORTS.—The Secretary shall not 
include any personally identifiable information on 
the online portal under subsection (d) or in the re-
ports under subsection (e). 
(g) VIOLATIONS.—Any person who, by virtue of an 
official position or affiliation with the Secretary— 
(1) has possession of, or access to, any record 
containing individually identifiable information the 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:22 Jan 14, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00015
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6767.IH
H6767
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
disclosure of which is prohibited by or under this 
section; and 
(2) knowingly discloses such a record to any 
person or agency not entitled to receive the record, 
shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and fined not more than 
$25,000. 
(h) PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION DE-
FINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘personally identifiable 
information’’ means individually identifying information 
for or about an individual, including information likely to 
disclose the location or specific identity of a participating 
individual, regardless of whether the information is en-
coded, encrypted, hashed, or otherwise protected, includ-
ing— 
(1) a first and last name; 
(2) a home or other physical address; 
(3) contact information (including a postal, 
email or internet protocol address, or telephone or 
facsimile number); 
(4) a social security number, driver license 
number, passport number, or student identification 
number; and 
(5) any other information, including date of 
birth, racial or ethnic background, or religious affili-
ation, that would serve to identify any individual. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:22 Jan 14, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00016
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6767.IH
H6767
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
(i) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be 
necessary to carry out this section. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:22 Jan 14, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00017
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H6767.IH
H6767
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS