[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 221 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

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118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 221

Promoting minority health awareness and supporting the goals and ideals 
of National Minority Health Month in April 2023, which 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, Hispanics, and Native Hawaiians or other 
                           Pacific Islanders.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 18, 2023

Mr. Cardin (for himself, Mr. Scott of South Carolina, Mr. Padilla, Mr. 
 Menendez, Ms. Hirono, Mrs. Capito, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Booker, Mr. Braun, 
 Mr. Markey, and Mr. Brown) submitted the following resolution; which 
                      was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Promoting minority health awareness and supporting the goals and ideals 
of National Minority Health Month in April 2023, which 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, Hispanics, and Native Hawaiians or other 
                           Pacific Islanders.

Whereas the origin of National Minority Health Month is National Negro Health 
        Week, established in 1915 by Dr. Booker T. Washington;
Whereas the theme for National Minority Health Month in 2023 is ``Better Health 
        Through Better Understanding'';
Whereas the Department of Health and Human Services has set goals and strategies 
        to enhance and protect the health and well-being of the people of the 
        United States;
Whereas African American women were as likely to have been diagnosed with breast 
        cancer as non-Hispanic White women, but African American women were 41 
        percent more likely to die from breast cancer than non-Hispanic White 
        women between 2015 and 2019;
Whereas African American women were twice as likely to be diagnosed with and 2.3 
        times more likely to die of stomach cancer than non-Hispanic White 
        women;
Whereas African American men are 70 percent more likely to die from a stroke 
        than non-Hispanic White men;
Whereas Hispanics are twice as likely as non-Hispanic Whites to be hospitalized 
        for end-stage renal disease caused by diabetes, and are 30 percent more 
        likely to die of diabetes, than non-Hispanic Whites;
Whereas Asian Americans are 40 percent more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes 
        than non-Hispanic Whites;
Whereas the HIV or AIDS case rate among Hispanic men is 4 times the HIV or AIDS 
        case rate among non-Hispanic White men;
Whereas Hispanic women are 3 times as likely as non-Hispanic White women to die 
        of HIV infection;
Whereas, in 2019, African Americans accounted for 42.1 percent of HIV infections 
        and Hispanic Americans accounted for almost 30 percent of HIV 
        infections;
Whereas, in 2019, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders were 2.4 times more 
        likely to be diagnosed with HIV than non-Hispanic Whites;
Whereas, in 2018, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders were 2.5 times more 
        likely to be diagnosed with diabetes than non-Hispanic Whites;
Whereas, although the prevalence of obesity is high among all population groups 
        in the United States, 48.1 percent of American Indian and Alaska 
        Natives, 51.7 percent of Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders, 38.3 
        percent of African Americans, 34.9 percent of Hispanics, 30 percent of 
        non-Hispanic Whites, and 13 percent of Asian Americans older than 18 
        years old were obese;
Whereas Asian American and Pacific Islander adults accounted for 30.1 percent of 
        chronic Hepatitis B cases, and non-Hispanic White adults accounted for 
        13.5 percent of chronic Hepatitis B cases;
Whereas heart disease, stroke, cancer, and diabetes are some of the leading 
        causes of death among American Indians and Alaska Natives;
Whereas American Indians and Alaska Natives have higher prevalence and are at a 
        higher risk of diabetes, substance use, obesity, sudden infant death 
        syndrome, liver disease, viral hepatitis, and suicide than other groups 
        in the United States;
Whereas American Indians and Alaska Natives have a life expectancy that is 2.2 
        years shorter than the life expectancy of the overall population of the 
        United States;
Whereas African American women die from childbirth or pregnancy-related causes 
        at a rate that is 3 to 4 times higher than the rate for non-Hispanic 
        White women;
Whereas African American infants are almost 4 times more likely to die due to 
        complications related to low birth weight than non-Hispanic White 
        infants;
Whereas American Indians and Alaska Natives have an infant mortality rate twice 
        as high as that of non-Hispanic Whites;
Whereas American Indian and Alaska Native infants are 2.7 times more likely to 
        die from accidental deaths before their first birthday than non-Hispanic 
        White infants;
Whereas approximately 1,000 babies are born with sickle cell disease each year 
        in the United States, with the disease occurring in approximately 1 in 
        365 newborn Black or African-American infants and 1 in 16,300 newborn 
        Hispanic-American infants, and can be found in individuals of 
        Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, Asian, and Indian origin;
Whereas, while more than 1 in 6 older adults have untreated cavities, non-
        Hispanic Black older adults have between 2 and 3 times the rate of 
        untreated cavities as non-Hispanic White older adults;
Whereas the 2022 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report found 
        American Indians and Alaska Natives received worse care than non-
        Hispanic Whites for 43 percent of quality measures;
Whereas, as of 2023, with respect to hospitalizations due to COVID-19, American 
        Indians and Alaska Natives are 2.4 times more likely, African Americans 
        are 2.1 times more likely, and Hispanics are 1.8 times more likely to be 
        hospitalized compared to non-Hispanic Whites;
Whereas, as of 2023, with respect to deaths due to COVID-19, American Indians 
        and Alaska Natives are 2 times more likely, African Americans are 1.6 
        times more likely, and Hispanics are 1.7 times more likely to die 
        compared to non-Hispanic Whites; and
Whereas the health innovations of the United States present a unique opportunity 
        to improve public health and health care practices across the United 
        States and to reduce disparities among racial and ethnic minority 
        populations: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate supports the recognition of National 
Minority Health Month in April 2023, which includes bringing attention 
to the health disparities faced by minority populations in the United 
States, such as American Indians, Alaska Natives, Asian Americans, 
African Americans, Hispanics, and Native Hawaiians or other Pacific 
Islanders.
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