IV 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. RES. 1125 
Expressing support for prioritizing racial and ethnic diversity in clinical trials 
for therapies, diagnostics, and vaccines for COVID–19. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 18, 2020 
Mr. ENGEL (for himself, Mr. ESPAILLAT, Ms. BARRAGA´N, Mrs. HAYES, Ms. 
LEE of California, Mr. PRICE of North Carolina, Ms. NORTON, Mr. 
PAYNE, Mr. SIRES, Mr. TRONE, Mr. COHEN, Mr. BERA, Mr. NADLER, 
Ms. SEWELL of Alabama, Mr. CISNEROS, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. MEEKS, 
Mr. SAN NICOLAS, Ms. JOHNSON of Texas, and Ms. JACKSON LEE) sub-
mitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
Energy and Commerce 
RESOLUTION 
Expressing support for prioritizing racial and ethnic diversity 
in clinical trials for therapies, diagnostics, and vaccines 
for COVID–19. 
Whereas the novel coronavirus (SARS–CoV–2) causes 
COVID–19 and has claimed over 183,000 American lives 
as of September 1, 2020, according to the Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention; 
Whereas the COVID–19 pandemic has disproportionately im-
pacted communities of color; 
Whereas African Americans are nearly twice as likely to die 
from COVID–19 than White Americans; 
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•HRES 1125 IH 
Whereas American Indians and Alaska Natives are more than 
five times more likely to be hospitalized for COVID–19 
than White Americans; 
Whereas African Americans and Hispanic or Latino Ameri-
cans are more than four and one-half times as likely to 
be hospitalized for COVID–19 than White Americans; 
Whereas Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders are 10 
times more likely to be hospitalized for COVID–19 than 
White Americans; 
Whereas racial and ethnic communities have historically been 
underrepresented in clinical trials, and factors cited as 
explaining this underrepresentation include social and fi-
nancial barriers as well as mistrust in research participa-
tion stemming from historical discriminatory and abusive 
practices; and 
Whereas surveys show skepticism among communities of 
color about the safety of a potential COVID–19 vaccine 
despite vaccination rates that are typically as high as 
those of other communities: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Rep-
resentatives that Federal agencies should— 
(1) take appropriate actions to ensure meaning-
ful engagement of communities of color in the con-
duct of COVID–19 research and participation in 
clinical trials for COVID–19 diagnostics, therapies, 
and vaccines; 
(2) take steps to codevelop with communities of 
color strategies that address and resolve financial 
and social barriers that may prevent the participa-
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•HRES 1125 IH 
tion of racial and ethnic communities in clinical 
trials; and 
(3) partner with community groups, faith-based 
organizations, and health care facilities to conduct 
outreach to communities of color and improve equi-
table access to safe and effective COVID–19 vac-
cines that are licensed by the Food and Drug Ad-
ministration. 
Æ 
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