Title: Promoting minority health awareness and supporting the goals and ideals of National Minority Health Month in April 2020, which include bringing attention to the health disparities faced by minority populations of the United States during the novel coronavirus global pandemic.
Policy area: Health

Summary:
This resolution supports the goals of National Minority Health Month to bring attention to health disparities faced by minority populations and encourages federal and state governments to collect and publish racial and ethnic data related to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019).

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 918 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 918

Promoting minority health awareness and supporting the goals and ideals 
of National Minority Health Month in April 2020, which include bringing 
 attention to the health disparities faced by minority populations of 
    the United States during the novel coronavirus global pandemic.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 10, 2020

Mr. Correa (for himself, Ms. Johnson of Texas, Mrs. Watson Coleman, Mr. 
Richmond, Mr. Lewis, Mr. Cleaver, Mr. Cohen, Mr. Espaillat, Mr. Higgins 
of New York, Mr. Larson of Connecticut, Mr. David Scott of Georgia, Ms. 
 Moore, Ms. Gabbard, Mr. Garcia of Illinois, Ms. Barragan, Ms. Norton, 
 Ms. Bass, Ms. Blunt Rochester, Mrs. Beatty, Mr. Pocan, Mr. Grijalva, 
Mr. Clay, Ms. Wilson of Florida, Ms. Clarke of New York, Mr. Hastings, 
Ms. Tlaib, Mrs. Hayes, Mr. Lowenthal, Ms. Garcia of Texas, Mr. Danny K. 
Davis of Illinois, Mr. Morelle, Mr. Payne, Ms. Adams, Mr. Raskin, Mrs. 
 Lawrence, Mr. McGovern, Mr. Cisneros, Ms. Dean, Mrs. Napolitano, Mr. 
    Cooper, Ms. Fudge, Ms. Sewell of Alabama, Ms. Jackson Lee, Ms. 
 Pressley, Mr. Rush, Mr. McEachin, Mr. Cardenas, Mr. Sires, Ms. Lee of 
California, Mr. Vargas, Mr. Evans, Mr. Cox of California, Mr. Carson of 
 Indiana, Mr. Nadler, Ms. DeGette, Ms. Castor of Florida, Ms. Mucarsel-
   Powell, Mr. Soto, Mr. Brown of Maryland, Mrs. Luria, Mr. Levin of 
       California, Mr. Green of Texas, Mr. Moulton, Ms. Clark of 
Massachusetts, Mr. Butterfield, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Lawson of Florida, Mr. 
  Johnson of Georgia, Ms. Ocasio-Cortez, Mr. Smith of Washington, Mr. 
 Lynch, Mr. Beyer, Mr. Horsford, Mr. Michael F. Doyle of Pennsylvania, 
  Ms. Judy Chu of California, Ms. Roybal-Allard, Ms. Schakowsky, Mr. 
     Neguse, Mr. Sean Patrick Maloney of New York, Mr. Thompson of 
 Mississippi, Ms. Brownley of California, Mr. Price of North Carolina, 
 Mr. Trone, Mr. Takano, Ms. Kelly of Illinois, Mr. Brendan F. Boyle of 
     Pennsylvania, Ms. Sherrill, Ms. Jayapal, Ms. Spanberger, Mr. 
   Blumenauer, Mr. Cuellar, and Mr. Kildee) submitted the following 
 resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Promoting minority health awareness and supporting the goals and ideals 
of National Minority Health Month in April 2020, which include bringing 
 attention to the health disparities faced by minority populations of 
    the United States during the novel coronavirus global pandemic.

Whereas, as of Thursday, April 9, 2020, there are 429,264 confirmed cases of 
        COVID-19 and 14,820 deaths in the United States, including each of the 
        50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the United 
        States Virgin Islands;
Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has provided limited 
        racial and ethnic data based on a small sample size of COVID-19 cases 
        within the United States;
Whereas there is limited State and municipal government data collection and 
        publication of demographic information concerning COVID-19 cases 
        including tests, diagnoses, treatments, and health outcomes;
Whereas of the States disclosing demographic information concerning COVID-19, 
        data indicates racial and ethnic minorities are disproportionately 
        impacted;
Whereas in the State of Florida, five counties report that African Americans and 
        Latino Americans have been hospitalized at higher rates than non-
        Hispanic patients;
Whereas in the State of Michigan, African Americans represent 14 percent of the 
        State population, yet account for 33 percent of COVID-19 cases and 41 
        percent of deaths from COVID-19;
Whereas in the State of Illinois, African Americans represent 14.6 percent of 
        the State population, yet account for 28 percent of COVID-19 cases;
Whereas in the State of Louisiana, African Americans represent one-third of the 
        State population, yet account for more than 70 percent of COVID-19 
        deaths;
Whereas in Milwaukee County, home to the largest city in the State of Wisconsin, 
        African Americans represent 26 percent of the population, yet account 
        for nearly 70 percent of COVID-19 deaths;
Whereas of the five New York City ZIP Codes with the highest COVID-19 infection 
        rates, Latino Americans and Asian Americans have higher infection rates 
        than non-Hispanic Whites;
Whereas public health experts have warned that racial and ethnic minorities are 
        at an increased risk of health complications if infected with COVID-19 
        due to underlying health conditions;
Whereas African-American adults are 60 percent more likely than non-Hispanic 
        White adults to be diagnosed with diabetes;
Whereas Latino Americans have higher rates of end-stage renal disease caused by 
        diabetes, and are 40 percent more likely to die of diabetes, than non-
        Hispanic Whites;
Whereas Native Hawaiians living in the State of Hawaii are 2.4 times more likely 
        to be diagnosed with diabetes than non-Hispanic Whites living in Hawaii;
Whereas the Department of Health and Human Services has identified heart 
        disease, stroke, cancer, and diabetes as 4 of the 10 leading causes of 
        death among American Indians and Alaska Natives;
Whereas individuals with diabetes face an increased likelihood of experiencing 
        health complications from COVID-19;
Whereas delays in diagnosis and treatment can be harmful, especially for racial 
        or ethnic minority groups that have higher rates of certain diseases, 
        such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and kidney disease;
Whereas marked differences in the social determinants of health can lead to poor 
        health outcomes and declines in longevity;
Whereas the lack of demographic information makes it difficult to know whether 
        resources are being equitably distributed;
Whereas the month of April 2020 is National Minority Health Month; and
Whereas the goals and ideals of National Minority Health Month in April 2020 
        include bringing attention to the health disparities faced by minority 
        populations of the United States such as American Indians, Alaska 
        Natives, Asian Americans, African Americans, Latino Americans, and 
        Native Hawaiians or other Pacific Islanders, including as a result of 
        the novel coronavirus (COVID-19): Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports the goals and ideals of National Minority 
        Health Month, which include bringing attention to the health 
        disparities faced by minority populations in the United States, 
        including as a result of the novel coronavirus epidemic;
            (2) encourages the Federal and State governments to collect 
        and publish racial and ethnic data concerning COVID-19 tests, 
        diagnoses, and treatments; and
            (3) reaffirms the responsibility of Congress to provide for 
        equitable access to quality health care.
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