[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 78 Introduced in House (IH)]







107th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 78

Expressing the sense of the Congress that there should be established a 
                    National Minority Health Month.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 22, 2001

  Mrs. Christensen (for herself, Mrs. Meek of Florida, Mr. Payne, Mr. 
Clyburn, Mr. Bishop, Ms. Norton, Mr. Davis of Illinois, Mr. Towns, and 
     Ms. Jackson-Lee of Texas) submitted the following concurrent 
 resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
Expressing the sense of the Congress that there should be established a 
                    National Minority Health Month.

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 is a 
        crisis of minority health, consisting of continuing 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 suffer more than 60,000 excess deaths annually, compared to 
        nonminorities;
Whereas minorities are more likely than nonminorities to die from cancer, 
        cardiovascular disease, stroke, chemical dependency, diabetes, infant 
        mortality, violence, and, in recent years, acquired immunodeficiency 
        syndrome;
Whereas minority populations are not benefiting equitably from advances in 
        medical research and technology;
Whereas minority populations face substantial cultural, social, and economic 
        barriers to obtaining access to and delivery of health care;
Whereas minorities have made significant contributions to the United States, yet 
        are underrepresented in the health care professions;
Whereas the crisis in minority health results in losses of billions of dollars 
        by the United States because of reduced productivity and increased 
        health care expenditures; and
Whereas the establishment of a National Minority Health Month for the month of 
        April would encourage all health organizations in the United States to 
        host activities to promote healthfulness in minority communities: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That it is the sense of the Congress that--
            (1) there should be established a National Minority Health 
        Month;
            (2) the President should issue a proclamation--
                    (A) encouraging all health organizations in the 
                United States to host activities to promote 
                healthfulness in minority communities; and
                    (B) calling upon the people of the United States to 
                observe such a month with appropriate programs and 
                activities;
            (3) in conjunction with such a month, the Secretary of 
        Health and Human Services should--
                    (A) make information available to the public--
                            (i) on the health problems currently facing 
                        minority populations; and
                            (ii) on the careers and contributions of 
                        minority health professionals; and
                    (B) present public service announcements on health 
                promotion and disease prevention among minorities in 
                the United States;
            (4) there is a crisis in minority health, consisting of 
        continuing disparities in the burden of illness and death 
        experienced by minorities compared to the population of the 
        United States as a whole and the population of nonminorities;
            (5) public awareness of the effects of the crisis in 
        minority health should be increased;
            (6) minority representation in the health care professions 
        should be increased;
            (7) greater Federal appropriations should be made for 
        activities directed toward improving the health of minorities 
        in the United States, particularly health research and 
        education; and
            (8) targeted health promotion and disease prevention 
        initiatives should be presented in a manner that is culturally 
        sensitive to minority populations.
                                 <all>