[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 117 (Tuesday, September 17, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S8684]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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  SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 139--EXPRESSSING THE SENSE OF CONGRESS 
THAT THERE SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED A NATIONAL MINORITY HEALTH AND HEALTH 
               DISPARITIES MONTH, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

  Mr. TORRICELLI submitted the following concurrent resolution; which 
was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary:

                            S. Con. Res. 139

       Whereas in 2000, the Surgeon General announced a goal of 
     eliminating, by 2010, 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 population of the United 
     States 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 than nonminorities 
     suffering from those same illnesses;
       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 between minorities and the population of the 
     United States as a whole;
       Whereas the diverse health needs of minorities are more 
     effectively addressed when there are minorities in the health 
     care workforce; 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 behaviors that affect health and 
     illness, and these factors have the potential to be modified 
     to help close the health disparities gap that effects 
     minority populations: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That it is the sense of 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 
     populations experiencing health disparities;
       (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 that 
     target minorities and other populations experiencing health 
     disparities 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 communities experiencing 
     health disparities;
       (4) Federal, State, and local governments should work in 
     concert with the private and nonprofit sector to recruit and 
     retain 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.

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