[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.J. Res. 136 Introduced in House (IH)]

103d CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. J. RES. 136

  Designating the month of April 1993 as ``National African American 
                       Health Awareness Month''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 4, 1993

Mr. Stokes (for himself, Mr. Wynn, Mrs. Meek, Miss Collins of Michigan, 
Mr. Scott, Mr. Tucker, Mr. Rangel, Mr. Rush, Mr. Jefferson, Mr. Franks 
  of Connecticut, Mr. Lewis of Georgia, Mr. McKinney, Mr. Bishop, Mr. 
 Watt, Mrs. Clayton, Ms. Waters, Mr. Conyers, Mr. Towns, Mr. Payne of 
New Jersey, Mr. Mfume, Mr. Flake, Mr. Dixon, Ms. Norton, Mr. Owens, Mr. 
    Clyburn, Mr. Ford of Tennessee, Ms. E.B. Johnson of Texas, Mr. 
 Blackwell, Mr. Hilliard, Mr. Dellums, Ms. Brown of Florida, Mr. Clay, 
 Mrs. Collins of Illinois, Mr. Fields of Louisiana, Mr. Reynolds, and 
 Mr. Washington) introduced the following joint resolution; which was 
referred jointly to the Committees on Post Office and Civil Service and 
                          Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                            JOINT RESOLUTION


 
  Designating the month of April 1993 as ``National African American 
                       Health Awareness Month''.

Whereas the health status of racial and other minorities in the United States 
        lags behind that of nonminorities;
Whereas compared to nonminorities, minorities suffer more than 60,000 ``excess'' 
        deaths annually;
Whereas African Americans are more likely to die from cancer, cardiovascular 
        disease and stroke, chemical dependency, infant mortality, renal 
        failure, violence, and AIDS, than any other minority;
Whereas African Americans have a higher incidence of blindness due to glaucoma 
        and diabetic eye disease and suffer at a disproportionate rate from lung 
        and bronchus cancer caused by health risks such as smoking and radon;
Whereas efforts should be made to increase public awareness that the crisis in 
        minority health affects all Americans because of billions of dollars 
        associated with health care expenditures and reduced productivity due to 
        minority health-related problems;
Whereas statistics have shown that minority health providers are more likely to 
        practice in underserved areas and there is a decrease in the numbers of 
        African Americans entering the health field;
Whereas the United States Department of Health and Human Services has determined 
        public awareness and culturally sensitive, health education are 
        essential to improve the health of African Americans; and
Whereas National Negro Health Week, established in 1915 by Booker T. Washington, 
        in response to the health care crisis by African Americans, became the 
        precedent for a nationwide commemorative observance under the direction 
        of the United States Public Health Service from 1932 through 1950 during 
        the first week of April: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. DESIGNATION.

    The month of April 1993 is designated as ``National African 
American Health Awareness Month'', and the President is authorized and 
requested to issue a proclamation--
            (1) encouraging all health organizations to host activities 
        to promote healthfulness in African American communities, and
            (2) calling upon the people of the United States to observe 
        this month with appropriate programs and activities.

SEC. 2. INFORMATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS.

    In conjunction with ``National African American Health Awareness 
Month'', the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall, in 
cooperation with African American health, civic, religious and social 
organizations--
            (1) make information available to the public--
                    (A) on the health problems currently facing 
                minority populations, especially African Americans, and
                    (B) on the careers and contributions of minority 
                health professionals, particularly African American 
                health professionals, and
            (2) present public service announcements on health 
        promotion and disease prevention among African Americans.

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