IV 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 583 
Expressing support for the designation of the last week in October as ‘‘Black 
Women’s Health Week’’. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
OCTOBER 24, 2017 
Ms. CLARKE of New York submitted the following resolution; which was 
referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform 
RESOLUTION 
Expressing support for the designation of the last week in 
October as ‘‘Black Women’s Health Week’’. 
Whereas Black women represent 7.4 percent of the United 
States population and 12.7 percent of the female popu-
lation; 
Whereas, from 2007 to 2014, the teen pregnancy rate for 
Black teen women declined by 44 percent; 
Whereas Black teens have significantly lower prevalence of 
cigarette smoking than Hispanic and White adolescents; 
Whereas, from 2005 to 2014, new HIV cases among Black 
women declined by 42 percent; 
Whereas contraceptive use has increased among Black women 
over the past 10 years; 
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•HRES 583 IH 
Whereas the Black Women’s Health Study found that over 
60 percent of their participants reported their mental 
health as ‘‘excellent’’ or ‘‘very good’’; 
Whereas Black women are twice as likely to be diagnosed 
with diabetes than their White counterparts; 
Whereas 56.6 percent of Black adult women are obese com-
pared to 32.8 percent of White adult women, and overall 
Black Americans have the highest age-adjusted rate of 
obesity in the Nation; 
Whereas the obesity-related health care cost for preventable 
diseases was $23.9 billion in 2014 and is expected to be 
$50 billion by 2050; 
Whereas 46 percent of Black women over the age of 20 have 
hypertension compared to 31 percent of White women 
and 29 percent of Hispanic women; 
Whereas heart disease is one of the leading causes of death 
for women and Black women have an increased risk for 
heart disease due to the prevalence of diabetes, obesity, 
and hypertension; 
Whereas, while Black women have similar incidence rates of 
breast cancer as White women, they are 43 percent more 
likely to die from the disease than their White counter-
parts; 
Whereas it is estimated that over 30 percent of Black women 
do not receive the recommended number of prenatal visits 
because of costs; 
Whereas women who do not receive prenatal care are more 
likely to experience pregnancy-related complications; 
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•HRES 583 IH 
Whereas the Black infant mortality rate is 2.4 times higher 
than for White infants, primarily because Black women 
have high rates of preterm births; 
Whereas Black women are 3 to 4 times more likely to die 
from pregnancy-related conditions, such as cardiovascular 
conditions, hemorrhage, and other chronic medical ill-
nesses; 
Whereas discrimination is a key factor in chronic stress-re-
lated health disparities; 
Whereas stress related to discrimination contributes to ad-
verse birth and maternal health outcomes, chronic dis-
eases such as hypertension and diabetes, and mental 
health disorders; 
Whereas Black women are adversely affected by a lack of ac-
cess to quality health care and continue to experience 
consistently higher rates of chronic illnesses, obesity, and 
premature mortality; 
Whereas most of the aforementioned health inequities could 
be resolved if not for the lack of clinical trials and limited 
research dollars that incorporate the lived experiences of 
Black women and are directed toward the improvement 
of the health of Black women; 
Whereas eliminating health disparities could save the econ-
omy billions of dollars annually by reducing medical ex-
penditures for treating diseases and premature deaths, 
and recovering costs associated with work lost as a result 
of illness; 
Whereas, in 2015, 70.7 percent of working Black mothers are 
the primary or sole breadwinners for their families; 
Whereas Black women are overrepresented in the low-wage 
workforce and underrepresented in high-wage jobs; 
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•HRES 583 IH 
Whereas more than 50 percent of Black women between the 
ages of 18 to 24 are pursuing higher education; 
Whereas only two percent of all physicians are Black women 
and 10 percent of enrollees in STEM graduate degree 
programs are Black women; 
Whereas Black women only represent 1.2 percent of executive 
or senior-level employees and 0.2 percent of CEOs at 
S&P 500 companies; 
Whereas when companies include more diversity in the C- 
suite, they are 35 percent more likely to have higher fi-
nancial returns when compared with other companies in 
their industry; 
Whereas, even when Black women pursue higher education, 
they still earn less than their White male counterparts; 
Whereas Black women working full-time only earn 64 cents 
for every dollar earned by White men, which amounts to 
a loss of $21,001 per year and Black women having to 
work more than 19 months to make as much as White 
men did in the previous year; 
Whereas despite the immense improvement in their health, 
emotional well-being, and economic security, Black 
women are still at risk for poor health and economic out-
comes, and should be a priority population in this Nation; 
Whereas, when Black women have the opportunity to be paid 
more and fairly, they can fully support their families, 
grow the economy, and invest in their health; and 
Whereas the last week in October would be an appropriate 
week to establish as ‘‘Black Women’s Health Week’’: 
Now, therefore, be it 
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