[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 160 (Thursday, November 6, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2268-E2269]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         THE HEALTHCARE EQUALITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2003

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. ED CASE

                               of hawaii

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, November 6, 2003

  Mr. CASE. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to join my colleagues in the 
introduction of our proposed Healthcare Equality and Accountability 
Act, a bill that will address the glaring disparities in health care of 
our minority populations.
  While significant advances in health care have been made, it has been 
empirically demonstrated that minority populations disproportionately 
lack access to quality health care. For example, minority groups are 
less likely to

[[Page E2269]]

have health insurance and are less likely to receive appropriate health 
care services. These communities are also significantly 
underrepresented in our health care workforce.
  I am fully committed to the elimination of racial and ethnic 
disparities in health care access, quality, and in our health care 
workforce, because we all deserve equal treatment when it comes to our 
health. Additionally, a full investment in health care will improve the 
economic well-being of our Nation.
  For these reasons, I am an original cosponsor of the Healthcare 
Equality and Accountability Act. This bill will reduce racial and 
ethnic disparities and improve the health care for minority communities 
by: expanding health care coverage, removing language and cultural 
barriers, improving workforce diversity, improving data collection, 
creating and funding programs that reduce health disparities, promoting 
agency accountability, and strengthening our health institutions that 
already serve our minority populations.
  I am grateful that one vital component of this bill recognizes the 
late Congresswoman Patsy T. Mink by creating a Health and Gender 
Research Fellowship program in her name. This fellowship program, which 
will examine and research gender and health disparities, is an 
appropriate tribute to someone who is so well remembered for her work 
in education policy and known for her beliefs in social and economic 
justice.
  I commend the work of the Democratic Leadership in both chambers not 
only to bring the issue of health care disparities to light, but to 
address this national concern firmly and directly. I further appreciate 
the leadership's willingness to work with the Congressional Asian 
Pacific American Caucus, the Congressional Black Caucus, the 
Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and the Congressional Native American 
Caucus to ensure that our respective communities are included in this 
legislation. I especially appreciated the opportunity to assist in 
efforts to ensure that Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders were 
specifically included.
  As the Healthcare Equality and Accountability Act will provide true 
health benefits for all, I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

                          ____________________