I
107TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 1218
To provide for an African American Health Initiative under which demonstra-
tion 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 popu-
lations.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘African American
Health Initiative Act of 2001’’.
SEC. 2. AFRICAN AMERICAN HEALTH INITIATIVE.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Health and
Human Services (in this section referred to as the ‘‘Sec-
retary’’) may make grants to public entities or nonprofit
private community organizations for the purpose of car-
rying out five demonstration projects to conduct targeted
health campaigns directed at high-risk African American
populations. Activities carried out by such a project shall
include the following:
(1) Planning, organizing, and conducting a
symposium of all major elements of the community
to identify the best ways to reach and influence Afri-
can American individuals in the community.
(2) Designing culturally-relevant public health
messages and health care communication directed at
the African American community to change atti-
tudes toward health care.
(3) Creating effective outreach programs and
teaching tools that will reduce the health risks of the
African American community.
In making such grants, the Secretary shall provide for an
education program for health care providers in San
Bernardino County, in the State of California, that will
facilitate increased utilization of area health services by
the African American community.
(b) GOALS
OF PROJECT.—The goals of projects
under subsection (a) shall be to accomplish, over a five-
year period, the following:
(1) To reduce by 15 percent the incidence of
sudden infant death syndrome (commonly known as
SIDS).
(2) To increase the incidence of proper diag-
nosis and control of hypertension to minimize stroke,
renal failure, and congestive heart failure among the
African American population.
(3) To reduce the incidence of death due to
prostate cancer by increasing the number of African
American men screened and referred for treatment.
(4) To increase by 5 percent the number of Af-
rican Americans who have health insurance and have
a primary care doctor.
(5) To increase by 3 percent the number of Af-
rican Americans who pledge to be organ and tissue
donors.
(c) PROJECT AREAS.—Subject to the availability of
appropriations, projects under subsection (a) shall be car-
ried out in five separate counties (or other political sub-
divisions), of which three shall be in urban areas and two
shall be in rural areas.
(d) REPORTS.—Not later than June 1, 2008, the Sec-
retary shall submit to the Congress a report describing
the projects carried out under subsection (a) and evalu-
ating the extent to which the projects have met the goals
under subsection (b).
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