H. Con. Res. 388
Agreed to October 3, 2002
One Hundred Seventh Congress
of the
United States of America
AT THE SECOND SESSION
Begun and held at the City of Washington on Wednesday,
the twenty-third day of January, two thousand and two
Concurrent Resolution
Whereas in 2000, the Surgeon General of the Public Health Service
announced as a goal the elimination by 2010 of health disparities
experienced by racial and ethnic minorities in health access and
outcome in 6 areas: infant mortality, cancer screening, cardio-
vascular disease, diabetes, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
and human immunodeficiency virus infection, and immunizations;
Whereas despite notable progress in the overall health of the Nation
there are continuing health disparities in the burden of illness
and death experienced by African-Americans, Hispanics, Native
Americans, Alaska Natives, Asians, and Pacific Islanders, com-
pared to the United States population as a whole;
Whereas minorities are more likely to die from cancer, cardio-
vascular disease, stroke, chemical dependency, diabetes, infant
mortality, violence, and, in recent years, acquired immuno-
deficiency syndrome;
Whereas there is a national need for scientists in the fields of
biomedical, clinical, behavioral, and health services research to
focus on how best to eliminate health disparities;
Whereas individuals such as underrepresented minorities and
women in the workforce enable society to address its diverse
needs; and
Whereas behavioral and social sciences research has increased
awareness and understanding of factors associated with health
care utilization and access, patient attitudes toward health serv-
ices, and risk and protective behaviors that affect health and
illness, and these factors have the potential to be modified to
help close the health disparities gap among ethnic minority popu-
lations: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concur-
ring), That it is the sense of the Congress that—
(1) a National Minority Health and Health Disparities
Month should be established to promote educational efforts
on the health problems currently facing minorities and other
health disparity populations;
(2) the Secretary of Health and Human services should,
as authorized by the Minority Health and Health Disparities
Research and Education Act of 2000, present public service
announcements on health promotion and disease prevention
among minorities and other health disparity populations in
the United States and educate the public and health care
professionals about health disparities;
H. Con. Res. 388—2
(3) the President should issue a proclamation recognizing
the immediate need to reduce health disparities in the United
States and encouraging all health organizations and Americans
to conduct appropriate programs and activities to promote
healthfulness in minority and other health disparity commu-
nities;
(4) Federal, State, and local governments should work in
concert with the private and nonprofit sector to emphasize
the recruitment and retention of qualified individuals from
racial, ethnic, and gender groups that are currently underrep-
resented in health care professions;
(5) the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality should
continue to collect and report data on health care access and
utilization on patients by race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status,
and where possible, primary language, as authorized by the
Minority Health and Health Disparities Research and Edu-
cation Act of 2000, to monitor the Nation’s progress toward
the elimination of health care disparities; and
(6) the information gained from research about factors asso-
ciated with health care utilization and access, patient attitudes
toward health services, and risk and protective behaviors that
affect health and illness, should be disseminated to all health
care professionals so that they may better communicate with
all patients, regardless of race or ethnicity, without bias or
prejudice.
Attest:
Clerk of the House of Representatives.
Attest:
Secretary of the Senate.