[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 54 (Thursday, April 28, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E830-E831]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              IN SUPPORT OF NATIONAL MINORITY HEALTH MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. ELIJAH E. CUMMINGS

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 28, 2005

  Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about the critical 
need for racial equality in health and healthcare.
  America takes pride in its diversity, defining itself as a melting 
pot of ethnicities and cultural backgrounds. We are a Nation founded on 
a commitment to provide equal opportunity for all. Though we have made 
great strides in the last century, we have not yet accomplished that 
goal, particularly with regard to health care.
  The health and health care problems facing minority Americans are 
shocking. Numerous studies have shown minorities experience far higher 
rates than Caucasians of suffering and death from many diseases.
  Statistics from 2000 show that American Indians and Alaska Natives 
were 2.6 times more likely to have diagnosed diabetes compared with 
Caucasians; African American and Hispanic populations were each 2 times 
more likely.
  Furthermore, African Americans are 40 percent more likely to suffer 
from eye disease, 4 times more likely to experience kidney failure, and 
almost 3 times more likely to be hospitalized for lower limb 
amputations, all serious diabetes-related complications.
  Heart disease and stroke are the leading causes of death for all 
racial and ethnic groups in the United States. However, rates of death 
from diseases of the heart are 29 percent higher among African American 
adults than among white adults, and death rates from stroke are 40 
percent higher.
  Although African-Americans and Hispanics represent one-quarter of the 
nation's population, they represent more than half of new AIDS cases 
reported to the Centers for Disease Control. Among children, the 
disparities are even more dramatic, with African-American and Hispanic 
children representing more than 80 percent of pediatric AIDS cases in 
2000.
  There are many more statistics I could give you, which demonstrate 
more disparities in obesity, mental health, cancer, emergency care and 
kidney disease. But they all point to one fact: racial and ethnic 
minorities are living sicker lives and dying younger.
  In fact, according to the American Journal of Public Health, over 
886,000 deaths could have been prevented from 1991-2000, if African-
American minorities had received the same care as White Americans. Of 
course this number increases when you add in other minority 
communities, indicating the sheer numbers of American families 
affected. These numbers mean that someone loses a mother, brother, 
father, sister, husband, wife or other loved one too early--
unnecessarily.

  Mr. Speaker, we have invested a great deal in medical research, and 
have seen huge advances in scientific knowledge and technology to 
develop preventative treatments and cures. However, it is clear that 
the benefits of our investment and knowledge are not reaching all 
segments of the population equally.
  The dramatic differences in health among minority populations are 
caused by many factors, including the lack of access to quality health 
care. Communities of color are disproportionately represented among the 
ranks of the uninsured. One third of Americans are minorities, but they 
account for more than half of the 45 million Americans lacking health 
insurance.
  Additionally, it has been shown that racial and ethnic minorities 
often receive inferior health care compared to their white 
counterparts. There are many contributing factors, including cultural 
and linguistic barriers, a lack of trust between patients and health 
care providers, and prejudice.
  The well-known Unequal Treatment study conducted by the Institute of 
Medicine, shows that, given equal income, insurance, and education 
levels, minorities are still less likely to receive adequate health 
care than Caucasians. Despite all of our efforts, and however subtle or 
unconscious it may be, prejudice still exists within our health care 
system.
  Mr. Speaker, one-third of Americans are minorities. As such, one-
third of our citizens live with a threat of inferior health and 
inadequate health care. For underprivileged minorities, this amounts to 
a death sentence.
  We are at a critical juncture. The color of your skin, or the 
language you speak, should not decree that you are more likely to die 
from

[[Page E831]]

cancer, from heart disease, from AIDS, from diabetes. It is time to 
make a reality of our vision of an America in which all populations 
have equal opportunity to live long and healthy lives.
  The Federal government has recognized this serious problem, and we 
have set a goal of eliminating health disparities by the end of the 
decade. We have taken some important first steps, including 
establishing a new National Center on Minority Health and Health 
Disparities within the National Institutes of Health. But we are 
halfway through the decade, and there is still much to do to prove this 
is not a hollow promise.
  We need legislation that will clearly establish a base for building 
effective communication strategies and increasing awareness of health 
care providers and minority patients. Clinical studies should be 
redesigned to include more minorities. Health insurance coverage must 
become accessible for everyone. Our funding priorities must show our 
moral commitment to eradicating health and healthcare disparities.
  We cannot place all the responsibility for a solution on minority 
Americans. Disparities are the result of problems inherent in our 
health care system that prevent quality care and allow disparities to 
persist. There are a number of factors that contribute including the 
lack of knowledge about how diseases can affect different races in 
different ways; insufficient training in medical schools; and, lack of 
diversity in the medical field.
  Mr. Speaker, Congress and the Administration must assume the lead 
responsibility to achieve equality in health care. I urge you, and all 
of our colleagues, to join with me in supporting the Minority Health 
bill--soon to be reintroduced in the House and Senate and other 
critical initiatives to end minority health and healthcare disparities.

                          ____________________