[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 388 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]

        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, 
  cardiovascular 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, compared to the United 
  States population as a whole;

Whereas minorities are more likely to die from cancer, cardiovascular 
  disease, stroke, chemical dependency, diabetes, infant mortality, 
  violence, and, in recent years, acquired immunodeficiency 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 services, 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 populations: Now, therefore, be 
  it

    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
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;
        (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 communities;
        (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 underrepresented 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 Education 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 
    associated 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.