[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 388 Referred in Senate (RFS)]

  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 388


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                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 1, 2002

        Received and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
Expressing the sense of the Congress that there should be established a 
 National Minority Health and Health Disparities Month, and for other 
                               purposes.

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.

            Passed the House of Representatives April 30, 2002.

            Attest:

                                                 JEFF TRANDAHL,

                                                                 Clerk.