[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 52 (Monday, April 13, 2015)]
[House]
[Pages H2132-H2139]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
THE STATE OF BLACK HEALTH: A CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS ASSESSMENT
DURING NATIONAL MINORITY HEALTH MONTH
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of
January 6, 2015, the gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Kelly) is
recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the minority leader.
Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, at this time, I yield to my
distinguished colleague from New Jersey, Congressman Donald Payne.
Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my coanchor, Robin Kelly,
Congresswoman from Illinois, for being involved in this Special Order
tonight.
Thanks also to the members of the Congressional Black Caucus who are
here tonight on such an important topic.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the people at home who are tuning
in to watch this. It is truly an honor to speak to them directly in
their homes, to fight on their behalf and to advance our shared
priorities. That is why we are here tonight and every Monday night that
the House is in session--to address the diverse issues affecting
African American communities throughout our Nation and to let you know
that we are here, fighting for you every single day.
Mr. Speaker, this month is National Minority Health Month. It is a
chance to evaluate the state of black health, a chance to address
health disparities affecting racial minorities, and a chance to speak
to efforts to advance health equity. Today, African American and other
minority populations lag behind in numerous health areas, including in
the access to quality care, in timelines of care, and in health
outcomes. These disparities have devastating impacts on individuals and
families but also on our communities and our society as a whole.
There are numerous factors that contribute to the health disparities
throughout New Jersey's 10th Congressional District and throughout our
Nation as well--poverty, environmental threats, inadequate access to
health care, and educational inequities. These are such interconnected
issues that a piecemeal plan to fixing the problem will not work. A
comprehensive approach--one that focuses on providing access to quality
care for all, creating good jobs that provide a decent living, and
increasing educational opportunities for low-income communities--is
only one way to eliminate the health disparities once and for all.
With that, Mr. Speaker, I would like to get to the members of the CBC
who are here, and I turn it over right now to the gentlewoman from
Illinois, the Honorable Robin Kelly, who has been holding down the fort
while I have been dealing with my health issues.
General Leave
Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their
remarks and to include extraneous material on the subject of my Special
Order.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from Illinois?
There was no objection.
Ms. KELLY of Illinois. I thank the distinguished gentleman from the
Garden State, my good friend, Donald Payne. I am glad he is back and in
better health in order to lead this Congressional Black Caucus Special
Order hour on the state of black health.
Mr. Speaker, it has been the refrain of so many people of all races
across the country, the refrain of ``black lives matter.'' We have
gathered here this evening because black lives do matter. Whether we
are talking about issues of justice or of economic opportunity or of
the health of our Nation, black lives matter. The topic of tonight's
Special Order hour is: The State of Black Health--a CBC Assessment
during National Minority Health Month.
Each April, we observe National Minority Health Month in order to
raise awareness about the gaping health disparities that impact
communities of color across the Nation. Many of us have been personally
affected by the physical and emotional tolls that conditions like
obesity, diabetes, kidney disease, breast and prostate cancer, and HIV/
AIDS have brought on ourselves and our loved ones and neighbors.
Last month marked the 50th anniversary of the Selma to Montgomery
marches--the generation-defining events that led to the passage of the
1965 Voting Rights Act. Like the right to vote, health care is a
fundamental civil right that our leaders, health professionals, and
communities must fight to protect. The Affordable Care Act was a
critical step in the march toward health equity, but there is still
much more to be done.
Dr. Martin Luther King expressed this a half century ago when he
said: ``Of all of the forms of inequality, injustice in health care is
the most shocking and inhumane.''
I couldn't agree more, and it has been the work of the CBC and of the
Congressional Black Health Braintrust, which I chair, to advance the
critical phrase of the human rights and civil rights struggle--``health
equity.''
This year, the CBC's Health Braintrust will focus on three core
principles: strengthening our communities, improving health access, and
marching toward a healthier future. The disparities facing minority
communities in rural areas across the country are too numerous to name.
To that end, the Congressional Black Caucus Health Braintrust will work
vigorously to address the gaps that exist when it comes to reducing
heart disease, kidney disease, lung ailments, stroke, oral health,
lupus, child nutrition, HIV/AIDS, mental health disorders, gun violence
as a public health threat, and other chronic and infectious diseases.
I am glad that, during tonight's hour, we will be focused on
strengthening our public health infrastructure and on developing
community-oriented, multidisciplinary approaches to public health,
which will close the national health disparity gap.
{time} 1945
This National Minority Health Month the CBC will work to expand
access to health care, early health education, and medical investment
so that we can make our communities healthier and reduce the prevalence
of diseases that disproportionately cut minority lives short.
Again, I thank my coanchor for the next hour.
Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentlelady from
Illinois (Ms. Kelly), who has done a tremendous job and has stepped
into the gap left by the leaving of one of our former colleagues, Donna
Christensen from the Virgin Islands. Ms. Kelly has stepped up to fill
the position at the Health Braintrust. She has been a fighter in this
area prior to coming to the Congress and has continued to demonstrate
her leadership along these lines.
At this point in time, it is my honor to hear from a member of the
CBC who has been a leader, seasoned in so many areas and aspects, and
has been a real mentor and a role model for me as I come here and try
to fight for the American people every day, as he does for his
constituents in Illinois, the Honorable Danny Davis.
Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my
colleague, Mr. Payne, for the leadership that he provides, and I am
delighted to be here with my colleagues as we talk about one of the
most pernicious problems that exists in our country, and that is the
tremendous disparity that exists among minorities--African Americans,
Latinas, and Native Americans--when it comes to health and health care.
Millions of racial and ethnic minorities have been and continue to be
disproportionately suffering. Health disparities among minorities have
been neglected for many decades in this Nation, and as a result,
millions of racial and ethnic minority Americans continue to lack
access to reliable and quality health care. They are often suffering
more from comorbidities and
[[Page H2133]]
poor health outcomes and are more likely to die prematurely from
preventible causes compared to their white counterparts.
Examples of these pervasive health disparities include the following:
The infant mortality rate for African Americans and American Indian/
Alaska Natives are more than two times higher than that for whites;
African Americans with heart disease are three times more likely to
be operated on by high-risk surgeons than their white counterparts with
heart disease;
Hispanic Latina women have the highest incidence rate for cancers of
the cervix, 1.6 times higher than that for white women, with a cervical
cancer death rate that is 1.4 times higher than for white women;
Puerto Ricans have an asthma prevalence rate over 2.2 times higher
than non-Hispanic whites, and over 1.8 times higher than non-Hispanic
blacks;
Together, African Americans and Hispanics account for 27 percent of
the total U.S. population yet account for 62 percent of all new HIV
infections;
American Indian/Alaska Natives have diabetes rates that are nearly
three times higher than the overall rate;
Of the more than 1 million people infected with chronic hepatitis B
in the United States, half are Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.
Of course, one of the bright spots in healthcare delivery in this
Nation now is the Affordable Care Act. Minorities make up about 30
percent of the population but are 50 percent of the uninsured.
Currently, the ACA, since its enactment, has allowed health insurance
coverage for 16.4 million Americans who were not insured prior to this
law.
Another bright spot is community health centers, which are
celebrating their 50th year. The first of these centers was actually
approved and funded, the first one being a project between Tufts
University in Boston, Massachusetts, and Bolivar County, Mississippi.
It was called the Tufts-Delta Project. Since that time, they now are
providing quality health care to more than 23 million low- and
moderate-income individuals throughout the Nation.
Of course, one of the great needs is the need for health education
and the recognition that, as people learn how to better care for
themselves and to make more effective use of the resources that are
available, not only do we save money, but we also save lives.
I was amazed, as people spoke against the Affordable Care Act, where,
for the first time in their lives, many individuals were going to have
access to a regular primary care physician so they didn't have to go to
the emergency room of hospitals and get what is called episodic care.
So while the disparities are great, we know that progress is perhaps
even greater.
I end with being at a church just the other day where we were having
something called organ transplant Sunday, and the minister of this
particular church had had two heart transplants and a kidney
transplant. He preached every Sunday and owned a construction company
that he ran. That is why we need to make sure that we put adequate
resources into research and the funding of new approaches and new
techniques.
I want to thank my colleagues for this evening, for the opportunity
to talk about not only the great needs, but also to talk about some of
the progress that is being made.
I thank the gentleman from New Jersey, my colleague, Mr. Payne.
Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman from
Illinois (Mr. Danny Davis), who, as I stated in my opening remarks
about him, has been a deliberate and conscious fighter for not only his
constituents, but Americans that find themselves facing these
disparities all around the Nation.
Next it is my honor to hear from the gentlelady from Alabama, the
Honorable Terri Sewell, who had a wonderful participation in her
district last month of the 50th anniversary of the Edmund Pettus
Bridge, where many of my colleagues were able to go down and celebrate
that great victory in this Nation's history, and I was sorry I couldn't
be there, but I watched from afar and was very delighted to see such an
outpouring of respect for a moment in our history that can never be
forgotten, and we can never let the clock be turned back, as we say.
Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Thank you so much. I want to commend my
colleagues from Illinois and New Jersey for having this wonderful CBC
hour on minority health and the disparities that exist.
I want to talk for a minute about how we in Congress have tried to
address these disparities. You know, our Nation celebrated the fifth
anniversary of the Affordable Care Act in March. This anniversary
marked the historic progress our Nation has made towards making health
care not just a privilege, but a right for every American.
The ACA has significantly affected the minority population by trying
to close the gap on the disparity by giving access to affordable
healthcare insurance for all Americans. Thanks to the ACA, health
insurers can no longer deny coverage to individuals because of
preexisting conditions, and women no longer have to pay higher premiums
than men. Because of this law, millions of Americans can finally afford
to go to the doctor, and families no longer risk losing their home
savings and all that they have if a family member gets sick.
For those who already had insurance, the ACA has meant new savings
and new protections. This has even been true in my home State of
Alabama, a State that did not choose to enact a healthcare exchange, a
State that did not expand Medicaid. During the most recent enrollment
period, more than 171,000 Alabamians enrolled in quality healthcare
coverage at a price that they could afford. Over 1.1 million Alabamians
with private health insurance now have access to free preventive
services, and Alabamians with Medicare have saved more than $240
million in prescription drug costs. In 2014 alone, nearly 90,000
Alabamians saved an average of $931 for prescriptions. Yes, even in my
State of Alabama, which chose not to enact a healthcare exchange and
not to expand Medicaid, the ACA is working.
These are more than just numbers. Greater access to healthcare
insurance leads to a healthier population, which is good news not only
for Alabamians, but for all Americans. The ACA, indeed, works. That is
why I have proudly defended the ACA against numerous attacks to
undermine or repeal the law. Bipartisanship is possible. Members from
both sides of the aisle in both Chambers must work together to
strengthen our healthcare system and to ensure that all Americans have
access to quality, affordable healthcare insurance.
In March, I was proud that 392 of us in the House of Representatives
agreed on a permanent fix to the flawed Medicare physician payment
system and an extension to the Children's Health Insurance Program,
otherwise known as CHIP. This bipartisan agreement marked a historic
victory for our children of this Nation. It also was a victory for our
seniors, working class families, and healthcare providers. We must
continue to work together to ensure the healthcare system is working
for all of us.
Unfortunately, for many working poor individuals and families, access
to quality health care is still out of their reach. An estimated
191,000 Alabamians, for example, are uninsured because our Governor has
refused to expand Medicaid. Let me repeat that. 191,000 Alabamians
would benefit if our Governor would expand Medicaid in the State of
Alabama. These individuals pay their taxes, work hard, and contribute
to their communities. Our government should assist them in return.
Governor Robert Bentley recently created the Alabama Health Care
Improvement Task Force to examine ways to increase access to health
care in rural Alabama.
{time} 2000
I welcome my Governor's establishment of this task force. I know that
when this task force meets, it will recommend expanding Medicaid.
My hope is that we will put partisan politics aside in my great State
of Alabama and look to what is in the best interest of all the people.
Clearly, 191,000 Alabamians fall in that gap, those who currently
cannot get healthcare insurance because this State would refuse to
expand Medicaid.
I find it ironic, Mr. Speaker, that my Governor would choose to
recommend expanding taxes. Increasing taxes is his
[[Page H2134]]
current proposal on the floor in the statehouse in order to meet the
shortfall that exists in my State.
Let's just think about that. My Governor would rather increase taxes
than to accept money from the Federal Government to expand Medicaid--
how shortsighted.
No State that refuses to expand Medicaid has been better off without
it. Without the expansion, the dramatic healthcare needs of Alabama's
working poor will remain unmet; and rural hospitals, many of which I
represent, will face growing financial challenges that will undoubtedly
lead to reduced services.
According to a 2013 study conducted by the Culverhouse College of
Commerce at the University of Alabama, the Medicaid expansion would
create $28 billion in overall business activity in the State of
Alabama. There has not been another economic development investment in
the State of Alabama that would bring the State more than 30,000 new
jobs annually.
A 2012 study conducted by the University of Alabama at Birmingham
School of Public Health found that Medicaid expansion in our State
would generate $20 billion in new economic activity and a $925 million
increase in State tax revenues--yes, revenues to our State.
Expanding Medicaid is clearly not only a moral imperative, but I
would say to you that it is an economic imperative in my State. With
each day that our State delays expansion, more Alabamians are unable to
work due to unrelated health conditions. More rural hospitals have to
cut services because of uncompensated care provided in their emergency
rooms.
With each day that my State delays expanding, Alabamians continue to
forego the immense economic benefit that results from this investment.
The greatest casualty, Mr. Speaker, are the most vulnerable Americans,
the most vulnerable in our society: the poor, the working poor, the
unemployed, the uninsured.
It is unacceptable that the State of Alabama has not chosen to expand
Medicaid. We owe it to Alabama taxpayers to expand Medicaid now.
I want to commend my colleagues, Representatives Payne and Kelly, for
choosing to talk about the effects of health care on minority
populations. I would add that in this day and age, when we have a law--
the Affordable Care Act--that stands ready and willing to help
Americans help themselves--after all, what we are saying is we are
giving access to affordable healthcare insurance, insurance that they
have to pay for, insurance that they can get subsidized if they are the
working poor--we deserve it as Americans.
In this great country, no one should go without health care, no one,
especially those who are the most vulnerable in our society.
I hope that through talking about the disparities that exist in
minority health, we also remember that this great institution did do
something that would help decrease the disparity. We chose to pass the
Affordable Care Act, and every time, we have defended it against
repeal.
It is time that States like the State of Alabama get with the
program. It is time States like Alabama expand Medicaid and that we
choose our people over politics. Partisan politics should not rule the
day; instead, we should care more about the people we represent than
the partisan politics of each of our parties.
I thank my colleagues for continuing the fight. The CBC Special Order
hour is very important. It highlights not only what is important to
minority communities--because what is important to minority communities
is important to all vulnerable communities in America.
I want to thank my colleagues for continuing this great tradition. I
want to thank them for choosing to talk about health care and the
disparities that exist in this country.
I want to urge all of the Alabama lawmakers who are listening to my
voice, the State lawmakers who are in Montgomery today, that we need to
work together to expand Medicaid in the State of Alabama. The medical
case is there. The economic case is there. The moral case is there.
Let's do what is right for all Alabamians, and let's expand Medicaid
today.
Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Alabama for her
eloquent remarks on the topic of the evening. Irrespective of where you
are in this Nation, these issues are a common thread in communities
throughout this Nation.
I am not surprised that the gentlewoman from Alabama, Representative
Sewell, is able to talk about the same issues that we are able to talk
about in New Jersey, Illinois, California, Florida, and across this
Nation, across this great land.
At this time, I would like to hear from the gentlewoman from Ohio
(Mrs. Beatty), an outstanding Member of the United States House of
Representatives. In just her second term, she has demonstrated her
superior leadership skills. She is a member of my class, the ``class''
of the class.
Mrs. BEATTY. I thank my colleagues, Congressman Donald Payne and
Congresswoman Robin Kelly, for leading this evening's critical
discussion on ``The State of Black Health: A Congressional Black Caucus
Assessment During National Minority Health Month.''
Mr. Speaker, it is no surprise that we are here today because,
certainly, we have had many firsthand experiences to know the
disparities that exist across all Americans but, more specifically,
across African American communities.
To you, Mr. Payne, thank you for having the foresight to come
tonight; and to you, Congresswoman Kelly, thank you for taking a
leadership position in helping us share with the Nation the value and
the importance of protecting all lives but giving information to the
Nation about the state of black health.
It is imperative that we continue to address health disparities that
affect racial minorities and work together on the efforts to advance
health equity.
Since July 1971, the Congressional Black Caucus has sponsored
national conferences and held brain trusts on black health. It is so
timely that we have this discussion as we observe National Minority
Health Month.
Tonight is a call to action, a charge for all of us to unite towards
a common goal of improving the health of our communities. Everyone in
America should be able to live a healthy life, regardless of the color
of their skin.
Mr. Speaker, the good news is the overall health of an American has
improved over the past few decades. This is, in part, due to the
increased focus on preventive medicine and dynamic new advances in
medical technology.
However, not all Americans have benefited equally from healthcare
improvements. Since the enactment of the Affordable Care Act, millions
of Americans now have access to quality, affordable coverage.
According to the American Medical Association, recent studies have
shown that despite the steady improvement in overall health of the
United States, racial and ethnic minorities experience a lower quality
of health services and are less likely to receive routine medical
procedures and have higher rates of morbidity and mortality than
nonminorities.
Disparities in health care exist even when controlling for gender,
condition, age, and socioeconomic status. For example, cardiovascular
diseases account for the largest proportion of inequality in life
expectancy between African Americans and non-Hispanic whites.
According to the American Cancer Society, African American women have
a 44 percent higher death rate from breast cancer, despite having a
mammography screening rate that is nearly the same rate for white
women.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, the CDC, the infant
death rate among African Americans is still more than double that of
whites.
Mr. Speaker, tonight, you are going to hear my colleagues and I
discuss much data and statistics because I am from the great State of
Ohio and Ohio ranks 47th in the Nation in infant mortality, with black
infants dying at twice the rate of white infants.
According to a 2015 study conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation,
in Ohio, on average, 14.5 black infants die per every 1,000 live
births, while 6.3 white infants die.
Ohio community leaders and the Greater Columbus Infant Mortality Task
Force are working hard to lower Franklin County's infant mortality rate
and the infant mortality rate in
[[Page H2135]]
all of Ohio. Tonight, I salute them for their research, for their
education, and for their consistency to save lives. The statistics are
staggering, and we can and must do more to lower and eliminate them.
The societal burden of healthcare disparities in America manifest in
multiple and major ways. For example, a 2014 study by the Joint Center
for Political and Economic Studies concluded that ``the combined costs
of health inequalities and premature death in the United States were
$1.24 trillion.'' That $1.24 trillion is the cost between 2003 and
2006.
That is why, on March 23, 2010, when President Barack Obama signed
the Affordable Care Act, it was a monumental step that has helped us
address the overwhelming statistics and health disparities within our
community. I proudly supported the Affordable Care Act because lives
matter. All lives matter. Black lives matter.
Now, we have comprehensive healthcare reform that improves access to
affordable health coverage and guarantees that the most vulnerable in
our communities have access to care. By improving access to quality
health care for all Americans, the Affordable Care Act helps reduce
health disparities.
How does the Affordable Care Act do this? This law invests in
prevention and wellness, gives individuals more control over their
care, and expands initiatives to increase racial and ethnic diversity
in healthcare professions by strengthening cultural competency training
for all healthcare providers and improving communications between
providers and patients.
The Affordable Care Act represents the most significant Federal
effort to reduce disparities in this country's history.
Congressman Payne and Congresswoman Kelly, again, I salute you. I am
going to repeat that because it is so important for us to let the
Nation know that the Affordable Care Act represents the most
significant Federal effort to reduce disparities in this country's
history.
The Affordable Care Act also increases funding for community health
centers which serve an estimated one in three low-income people and one
in four low-income minority residents.
There are over 43 community health centers, Mr. Speaker, in Ohio,
including many in my district: Columbus Neighborhood Health Centers,
Heart of Ohio Family Health Centers, and Lower Lights Christian Health
Centers.
These community health centers provide outstanding primary care,
dental, behavioral health, and pharmacy services in our most
underserved areas. In 2013, community health centers provided care to
over 550,000 Ohioans and recorded over 2 million patient visits.
We have come a long way, Madam Speaker, but there is still much more
for us to do. All people should have the opportunity to reach their
fullest potential for health. We must continue to move forward to
combat health disparities, build healthier communities, and create a
stronger country. In order to have a successful Nation, I believe we
must have a healthy Nation.
Let me leave you with something a national figure once said:
If you neglect to recharge a battery, it dies. If you run
full speed ahead without stopping for water, you lose
momentum to finish the race.
Let us make sure that all Americans can finish the race.
{time} 2015
Mr. PAYNE. Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the gentlelady from
Ohio. As I stated in my introduction of her, she has just demonstrated
an outstanding leadership in our class that is second to none, and we
can always depend on her to bring some clear thought to these issues at
hand, so we would like to thank her once again.
Madam Speaker, tomorrow there will be a press conference at 1:30 with
Representatives Caroline Maloney and G.K. Butterfield to discuss the
new JEC report on persistent economic challenges in black communities.
The report is bleak. There is not a lot of good news in this report.
Nearly one in seven Americans identify themselves as African
American. The third-largest racial ethnic group in the United States,
African Americans have made significant social and economic progress
since the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; however, the black
community continues to face enormous challenges.
Economic data reveals startling inequities. By many of the most
important measures of economic well-being, blacks lag far behind the
majority white population. And that is just the overview of the report.
That is just the start.
I hope the people watching at home and my colleagues in earshot of me
will be there tomorrow to support our colleagues at 1:30 at the HVC
Studio A.
I would like to give my colleague, Representative Kelly, the
opportunity to provide us more information on the issue at hand. As was
mentioned, the Affordable Care Act, something that has passed this
Congress, and there have been many attempts to thwart it and repeal it,
but the majority is never successful at doing that because people
understand what this legislation has meant to this Nation.
You see, it makes sense for more people to have quality affordable
health care, and that has been the issue. The first word in the act,
``affordable,'' has been prohibitive for many Americans to have the
health care that they need and desire.
But this legislation has made it available to 16 million more people
in this country. Sixteen million people have benefited from this piece
of legislation that is continually under attack.
Actually, it is 16 million and one, because I have heard a
candidate--the first person to announce they are running for President
of the United States in 2016, who is a Senator, who hails from the
great State of Texas--say that with him running, his wife will lose,
will stop working at her job, dedicate herself to this campaign, so his
health care was under her benefits.
Well, guess what? In a kind of coy little shrewd way, he said, Well,
you know, now I will take the mantle of getting health care for my
family.
You mean the Affordable Care Act, sir? The issue you railed about
constantly for years since you have come to the Senate?
Oh, well that is different.
It is absolutely incredible, when I sat there and watched him try to
dance around that, that he is now in the exchange. It was a sight to
see.
But I will get off of that and let my colleague from Illinois provide
us some information.
Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Thank you, Congressman Payne.
Something I want to speak about is oral health. As we discuss the
state of black America, I want to address a topic that is so often left
out of the public health discourse, and that is the issue of oral
health in America.
Earlier this year, the CBC Health Braintrust recognized National
Children's Dental Health Month, and back in February I had the
opportunity to go around my district in a mobile dental van to observe
local dentists performing free oral health screenings around the
community.
These types of effort matter, and oral health is a critical piece to
overall health wellness. The sad fact is that all across our Nation,
many communities are experiencing serious oral health crises.
Far too many people in urban, suburban, and rural America are lacking
access to dental care, despite the efforts of committed dental
professionals and social service organizations.
We must recognize that access to dental health care across the
country is not equal. Each year, nearly 50 million Americans, including
16 million low-income children in underserved communities, go without
the oral health services they need.
As we continue the national discussion on improving health care and
reducing health disparities in America, it is important that oral
health be central to the conversation.
When officials discuss health care and wellness, they should remember
that the mouth is connected to the rest of the body. This seems to be
forgotten in the current dialogue about improving health outcomes for
all.
This year I introduced H.R. 539, the Action for Dental Health Act,
which allows organizations to qualify for Health and Human Service oral
health grants to support activities that improve oral health education
and dental disease prevention.
[[Page H2136]]
This includes developing and expanding outreach programs that will
facilitate establishing dental homes for children and adults, including
the elderly, blind and disabled.
This bipartisan legislation will target crucial Federal dollars to
State and local dental organizations to provide proven oral health care
services in a manner that effectively addresses the barriers to dental
care many Americans face. It will have a significant impact on many
underserved communities.
I think the majority of my colleagues know that regular visits to the
dentist do more than keep your smile attractive. They can tell a lot
about your overall health, including whether or not you may be
developing a disease like diabetes or if you are at risk for a stroke.
As the CBC takes on the critical task of creating healthier
communities by breaking down barriers, oral health is a subject that
must be addressed. This will ultimately help reduce unnecessary health-
care costs by minimizing and eliminating dental diseases in their early
stages.
As I mentioned earlier, I recently visited a new mobile dental van
operated by a hospital in an underserved community in my district that
had a stop at the hospital's Women, Infant, and Children's Center. They
had a pediatric dentist on hand to provide babies and toddlers with
their first dental exams.
I saw firsthand the critical need for dental care, not only for these
young children, but for their parents. This highlighted all too well
the gaps in dental care that are particularly prevalent in minority
communities.
Viewing the care and service the these dental professionals displayed
to kids, many of whom had never been to a dentist, reminded me of kids
like Deamonte Driver.
You may recall, he was the 12-year old boy from Maryland who died
from an untreated tooth infection that spread lethal bacteria to his
brain. An untreated tooth condition that could have been resolved with
a routine extraction cost this boy his life. How is that possible in
the most innovative, wealthy Nation in the world?
I think we should be doing more to support volunteer dental projects
in underserved communities and improve oral health education, with a
particular focus on early oral health education and care for children.
We all know the link between good dental care and overall health has
been well established.
As we look for ways to raise a healthier generation of children,
increasing access and removing barriers to dental care must be at the
forefront. Through legislation like H.R. 539, the Action for Dental
Health Act, I am working to increase access to dental care and build
healthier communities. In improving the state of black health and the
state of American health, I ask that we lift up the issue of oral
health, and ask that my colleagues take the first step by cosponsoring
H.R. 539.
Mr. PAYNE. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlelady from Illinois. That
is so true. And as you stood there and stated those issues, that is
something that we have known for quite some time, how oral care impacts
so many other parts of your health--and as you mentioned, could really
show you the onset of diabetes.
I mention diabetes, Madam Speaker, because I have been out for
several weeks now with a foot infection. And it got pretty severe and
had to be operated on. But what has complicated the circumstance with
my foot is me being a diabetic, a very noncompliant diabetic, a
diabetic who did not take it seriously, did not take the medicines that
I should have for years.
This circumstance with my foot made it all so very clear what needed
to be done. The circumstance frightened me into doing everything that I
am supposed to now, so you are looking at a compliant diabetic. But it
is crucial, and the diabetes is what has complicated the healing of my
foot.
Now, I am a very fortunate person in this country. I am living an
American Dream that I did not realize would happen to me because of
another issue of my father losing his bout with colorectal cancer. He
was the Member prior to me, and I took his place.
But we were fortunate. We have always had good health care. We are
talking about the disparities and the inequities in this Nation for
people who are not in the positions that Representative Kelly, myself,
and other well-to-do Americans are who have health care that keeps them
alive.
Now, whether you use it or not is really up to you. But we are
afforded that opportunity to get great health care.
We are talking about people who want health care but cannot afford it
and find themselves in emergency rooms as their visit to the doctor.
They have to wait until they are very ill and go to the emergency room,
which is how they get their health care. That costs this Nation
millions and billions of dollars.
But what the Affordable Care Act has done is given a lot of these
people the opportunity to get pre-screenings and pro-care prior to
showing up at the emergency room.
So whether people realize it or not, you end up paying for these
people who cannot afford their own health care in your premium, because
someone is going to cover it. The insurance companies aren't going to
just cover it. The hospitals aren't, so we pay it in our premiums.
So as you get more people their own health care, it drives the cost
down. It will drive the cost down in this Nation, and we will all
benefit from more people being healthier. That is what the Affordable
Care Act is about. That is what it does. That is what it does.
{time} 2030
I am so fortunate to live in this Nation, to be able to represent the
10th Congressional District of the State of New Jersey, and to stand
here and fight for not only the people of the 10th District of New
Jersey, but every American that deserves an equal opportunity. That is
what it is about.
It is not about favor; it is about the opportunity, the equal
opportunity. And we see these disparities, iniquities in health care,
in economics all across the board, all across this Nation.
It is incumbent upon us as the Congressional Black Caucus to speak up
for the residents that we represent, children and infants.
You know, even in the 21st century, health disparities are stark,
especially in African American communities, where life expectancies are
lower and infant mortality rates are higher. Children of color who live
below the poverty line are much more likely to suffer from asthma,
develop ADHD, and contract diseases because they can't afford
vaccinations. It is the situation across the board. Cancer, African
Americans have the highest death rate and the shortest survival rate of
any racial ethnic group in the United States. And it just goes on and
on.
It is important that we get the message out. And we will continue to
fight with Representative Robin Kelly, head of the Health Braintrust. I
know the work that she will do on behalf of the American people.
So, Madam Speaker, with that, I would just like to thank Ms. Kelly
for the opportunity to speak on what I feel is a dire, dire situation
in this country, the inequity in health disparities.
Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Thank you, Congressman Payne. Welcome back.
And I am glad you are taking care of yourself.
Madam Speaker, again, I thank my colleagues for taking the time
during National Minority Health Awareness Month to assess the very
critical state of black health in America.
As stated earlier, the health disparities facing communities of color
are too significant to adequately address in just an hour. As a recent
CDC Health Disparities Report demonstrated:
Blacks diagnosed with HIV are less likely than any other groups to be
linked to care, retained in care, receive treatment, and achieve
adequate viral suppression;
Although black Americans represent only 12 percent of the U.S.
population, they accounted for 44 percent of new HIV infections and
represented 49 percent of all deaths with HIV in 2010. Furthermore,
blacks also accounted for 49 percent of new AIDS diagnoses in 2011;
According to the U.S. Census Bureau 2010 Population Estimates, 84
percent of all reported tuberculosis cases occurred in racial and
ethnic minorities. African Americans accounted for 40 percent of TB
cases amongst U.S.-born persons.
[[Page H2137]]
These facts account for a few of the health disparities affecting the
state of black health.
The Congressional Black Caucus Health Braintrust is committed to
strengthening our Nation's public health infrastructure and developing
community-oriented, multidisciplinary approaches to public health. We
will continue to work vigorously to address health gaps existing in the
black community, empower communities, and improve health access in
efforts to march toward a healthier future.
Black lives matter. The state of black health matters, and we are
confident that if we all join together, we can alleviate health
disparities facing minority communities across this Nation.
I thank my colleagues and my cochair, the Honorable Donald Payne,
Jr., for this hour of discussion, this hour of opportunity, and this
hour of change.
Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise in support
of the CBC Special Order Hour, ``The State of Black Health: A CBC
Assessment During National Minority Health Month.'' Unfortunately,
during a time when the best and most promising health innovation and
treatments exist, many individuals in our population face disparities
and inequalities in health access, delivery, and outcomes.
Since April is National Minority Health Month, we must highlight
these existing disparities and enact policies that focus on eliminating
inequalities and improving the nation's health at large. The future of
our nation's health mostly depends on the effectiveness of federal,
state, and local policies. Traditionally, African Americans and Latinos
face the worst health disparities in this country and in my home state
of Texas.
Generally, the death rate for blacks is higher than whites for heart
disease, stroke, cancer, influenza and pneumonia, diabetes, HIV/AIDS,
and homicide. In 2010, about two of five Latino adults and one in four
black adults were uninsured. While behavioral risk and environmental
factors are certainly at play for much of our population, the lack of
health care access and especially access to preventive health services
in the black and Latino communities increases the inequalities in each
category.
Currently, the adult obesity rate for blacks is 47.8 percent, 42.5
percent for Latinos, and 32.6 percent for whites. Broken down further,
56.6 percent of black females are obese while 37.1 percent of black
males are obese. The black population is the most obese among whites
and Latinos in all categories except for black males which is led by
Latinos. Obesity takes much of the blame for negative long-term health
impacts such as high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and
diabetes.
While the Affordable Care Act has certainly helped to improve access
to preventive services within minority communities, much can be done to
improve the aforementioned inequalities. The Centers for Disease
Control and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of
Minority Health have laid out several initiatives to promote health
equity and close the disparity gap between minorities and white
Americans. We must support the social, economic, and environmental
policies that the CDC and OMH have recommended in order to achieve
health equity and eliminate disparities.
Ms. FUDGE. Madam Speaker, I want to thank my colleagues Congressmen
Payne and Kelly for leading the Congressional Black Caucus Special
Order Hour.
My Congressional district in Ohio includes much of Cuyahoga County. A
few years ago, the county analyzed the relationship between a
resident's life-expectancy and neighborhood, with incredible, but not
surprising results.
The study found that people who lived in Hough, a low-income and
predominantly African-American neighborhood in Cleveland, could expect
to live 24 years less than someone who resided in Lyndhurst, an
affluent, predominantly white suburb of the city, less than 10 miles
away.
While Hough and Lyndhurst are extreme examples, they accurately
represent national trends: African Americans live, on average, four
years less than their white peers.
It is unacceptable that the American health care system, which
attracts students, physicians and patients from across the world, does
not serve all the citizens of this country equally.
Sadly, the consequences of health disparities have a major impact on
our nation's children.
Students who attend predominantly minority schools often do not have
access to fresh fruits and vegetables, places to exercise, or many of
the other resources we know are necessary for a healthy lifestyle.
It is our responsibility as Members of Congress to ensure our
constituents have the opportunity to be healthy, regardless of how much
they make, where they live, or what they look like.
I am committed to working with my colleagues in Congress, the
Administration, local and state governments, and private partners to
make good on that obligation.
Ms. LEE. Madam Speaker, first, let me thank Congresswoman Robin Kelly
and Congressman Donald Payne, Jr. for hosting this important Special
Order. I appreciate your leadership in organizing this important
discussion on the state of Black Health in America.
Madam Speaker, every April, we observe National Minority Health
Awareness Month. This year is particularly significant as we mark 30
years since the groundbreaking Health and Human Services Task Force on
Black and Minority Health report. This report sparked the first serious
discussion in Washington on addressing the deep racial health
disparities that exist in this country.
This year also marks 50 years since the creation of Medicare and
Medicaid--programs that have kept and continue to keep Americans
healthy.
We are also celebrating the fifth year anniversary of the passage of
the Affordable Care Act--the most significant legislation to improve
the health of all Americans in more than a generation.
These legislative achievements continue moving us closer to health
equity for all--however, major health disparities still exist.
The zip code in which you are born still determines your likely life
expectancy.
Gross disparities exist from zip code to zip code--even within the
same city or county.
So today, I rise to join my colleagues in the Congressional Black
Caucus to bring to light the state of Black health in America and call
for more action to address persistent and lingering disparities in
health access, treatment and care.
Since the passage of The Affordable Care Act, access to care has
dramatically expanded in communities of color. The uninsured rate has
declined 7.3 percent in the African American community. And more people
have access to affordable, quality healthcare--all thanks to the
Affordable Care Act.
When we were crafting the Affordable Care Act, I had the privilege of
serving as Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus.
And let me tell you, we worked day and night with our colleagues in
the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and Congressional Asian Pacific
American Caucus, to push Congress and the Administration to craft the
best possible bill.
Since its passage, the Affordable Care Act has improved the American
health care system: Healthcare is now more affordable and accessible
than ever
Women can no longer be discriminated against because they are a
woman, have a pre-existing condition--such as HIV/AIDS--or have been
the victim of domestic violence;
Young people can stay on their parent's health insurance until they
are 26; and
People with serious conditions, like cancer, no longer face the real
fear of hitting their lifetime cap and being denied life-saving
treatment.
The ACA also expands the capacity of the healthcare delivery system
to better serve those at risk for and living with HIV/AIDS.
These are the facts. The Affordable Care Act has dramatically
increased access to preventative care for women, low-income
communities, and people of color.
Despite rabble-rousing and grandstanding from the right, this law is
saving lives--every, day, in communities across America--from Maine to
my district in the East Bay.
During the last enrollment period, 16.4 million Americans obtained
health insurance, and more than half a million came from my home state
of California.
Make no mistake--the Affordable Care Act is working.
African Americans and Latinos, historically underinsured or uninsured
groups, have seen the greatest declines in their uninsured rates. This
is especially good news for African Americans who are living with HIV,
where the key to halting the epidemic is access to affordable and
quality care.
With this increase in coverage, we are beginning to close the gap in
racial and ethnic health disparities and access to care.
However, much work remains to truly realize health equity in America.
Right now--in America, the richest and most powerful country in the
world--African Americans still suffer from disproportionately high
numbers of preventable deaths, disparities in access to quality health
care, and underrepresentation within the medical community.
African Americans have the highest mortality rate of any racial and
ethnic group from cancer.
Furthermore, African-Americans are 40% more likely to die from a
stroke than whites, and 30% more likely to die from heart disease than
whites.
[[Page H2138]]
And while African Americans are only 13% of the U.S. population, they
account for nearly half of all new HIV infections. African Americans
also account for the highest HIV-related deaths and HIV death rates.
Madam Speaker--this is unacceptable.
In an age where technology and innovation are paving the way to new
medical breakthroughs, these persistent disparities in healthcare
cannot be allowed to continue.
That is why today, I urge my colleagues: Let's work together and
commit ourselves to passing legislation that will end racial and ethnic
disparities and achieve health equity.
The Affordable Care Act was a good start but more is needed.
For years, the Congressional tri-caucus has championed this effort by
introducing The Health Equity and Accountability Act (HEAA).
Congresswoman Robin Kelly will have the honor in introducing this
important legislation this Congress and I am proud to co-lead this
effort as co-chair of the CAPAC Health Task Force.
This important legislation builds on the Affordable Care Act and puts
us on track to eliminate health disparities in our country.
The Health Equity and Accountability Act would address incidences of
terminal and chronic diseases that disproportionally affect communities
of color, including cancer, diabetes, heart disease and HIV/AIDS.
So, in recognition of National Minority Health Awareness Month, I
urge my colleagues to support this important bill in order to truly
achieve health equity for all.
Madam Speaker, the state of black health in America is improving, but
much work remains before us.
As our drum major for justice, Dr. King, told us, ``of all the forms
of inequality, injustice in health care is the most shocking and
inhumane.''
I urge my colleagues to join us in securing health equity for all.
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, National Minority Health Month is a
very important time to bring awareness to the many health concerns
facing minority communities.
My colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus and I understand the
very difficult challenges facing us in the form of huge health
disparities among our community and other minority communities.
We will continue to seek solutions to those challenges. It is
imperative for us to improve the prospects for living long and healthy
lives and fostering an ethic of wellness in African-American and other
minority communities. Certainly, the Affordable Care Act, which I co-
sponsored and worked on has brought a new quality of life and access to
healthcare for millions of Americans including minorities.
I thank all of my CBC colleagues who been toiling in the vineyards
for years developing effective public policies and securing the
resources needed to eradicate racial and gender disparities in health
and wellness.
Let me focus these brief remarks on what I believe are some of the
greatest impediments to the health and wellness of the African-American
community and other minority communities.
The first challenge is reversing the dangerous trend of increasing
obesity in juveniles and young adults. Cancer, diabetes and hepatitis
are of great importance as well as combating the scourge of HIV/AIDS.
Finally, we must confront the leading cause of death of young
African-American males between the ages of 15-24; that cause is not
disease or accidental death, but homicide.
OBESITY
Although the obesity rates among all African-Americans are alarming,
as Chair of the Congressional Children's Caucus, I am especially
concerned about the childhood obesity epidemic among African-American
youth. More than 40 percent of African-American teenagers are
overweight, and nearly 25 percent are obese.
In 2007, my office in concert with the office of Congressman Towns
and the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, held a widely-attended
issue forum entitled, ``Childhood Obesity: Factors Contributing to Its
Disproportionate Prevalence in Low Income Communities.''
At this forum, a panel of professionals from the fields of medicine,
academia, nutrition, and the food industry discussed the disturbing
increasing rates of childhood obesity in minority and low-income
communities, and the factors that are contributing to the prevalence in
these communities.
What we know is that African-American youth are consuming less
nutritious foods such as fruits and vegetables and are not getting
enough physical exercise. This combination has led to an epidemic of
obesity, which directly contributes to numerous deadly or life-
threatening diseases or conditions, including the following:
hypertension, dyslipidemia (high cholesterol or high triglyceride
levels), Type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, Stroke, gallbladder
disease, osteoarthritis, asthma bronchitis, sleep apnea, and other
respiratory problems, cancer (breast, colon, and endometrial.
When ethnicity and income are considered, the picture is even more
troubling. African-American youngsters from low-income families have a
higher risk for obesity than those from higher-income families.
Since the mid-1970s, the prevalence of overweight and obesity has
increased sharply for both adults and children. According to the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), among African-
American male adults aged 20-74 years the prevalence of obesity
increased from 15.0% in 1980 survey to 32.9% in the 2004.
There were also increases in overweight among children and teens. For
children aged 2-5 years, the prevalence of overweight increased from
5.0% to 13.9%; for those aged 6-11 years, prevalence increased from
6.5% to 18.8%; and for those aged 12-19 years, prevalence increased
from 5.0% to 17.4%.
As the debate over how to address the rising childhood obesity
epidemic continues, it is especially important to explore how
attitudes, environmental factors, and public policies influence
contribute to obesity among African-American males.
Some of these contributing factors are environmental, others are
cultural, still others are economic, and others still may be lack of
education or information. But one thing is clear: we must find ways to
remove them.
Cancer
Certain groups in the United States are not doing as well as others
when it comes to preventing and surviving cancer.
Many such disparities are apparent among certain minority populations
such as African Americans and Hispanics.
The reasons why cancer adversely affects these groups are largely
related to issues such as poverty, access to health care, and other
socioeconomic factors.
The cancer death rate among African American men is 27% higher
compared to non-Hispanic white men.
The death rate for African American women is 11% higher compared to
non-Hispanic white women.
African Americans have the highest incidence rates of colorectal
cancer of any racial or ethnic group.
Hispanics have higher rates of cervical, liver, and stomach cancers
than non-Hispanic whites.
Liver cancer incidence and death rates among Asian/Pacific Islanders
are double those among non-Hispanic whites.
Diabetes
About 19 percent of all non-Hispanic black Americans age 20 or older
(about 5 million people) have diabetes, the highest rate of any ethnic
group.
Among Hispanic adults, more than 2.5 million or about 11 percent of
the population have diabetes; 14 percent of American Indians and Alaska
Natives are living with the disease.
Compared with non-Hispanic white adults, the risk of diabetes is 18
percent higher in Asian-Americans, 66 percent higher in Hispanics/
Latinos, and 77 percent higher in non-Hispanic African-Americans.
Hepatitis
In 2002, 50 percent of those infected with Hepatitis B were Asian
Americans and Pacific Islanders.
Black teenagers and young adults become infected with Hepatitis B
three to four times more often than those who are white.
One recent study has found that black people have a higher incidence
of Hepatitis C infection than white people.
HIV/AIDS
HIV/AIDS is now the leading cause of death among African Americans
ages 25 to 44--ahead of heart disease, accidents, cancer, and homicide.
The rate of AIDS diagnoses for African-Americans in 2003 was almost
10 times the rate for whites.
Between 2000 and 2003, the rate of HIV/AIDS among African American
males was seven times the rate for white males and three times the rate
for Hispanic males.
African American adolescents accounted for 65 percent of new AIDS
cases reported among teens in 2002, although they only account for 15
percent of American teenagers.
Billions and billions of private and federal dollars have been poured
into drug research and development to treat and ``manage'' infections,
but the complex life cycle and high mutation rates of HIV strains have
only marginally reduced the threat of HIV/AIDS to global public health.
I have strongly supported legislation sponsored by CBC members and
others to give increased attention and resources to combating HIV/AIDS,
including the Ryan White CARE Act.
I support legislation to reauthorize funding for community health
centers (H.R. 5573, Health Centers Renewal Act of 2006), including the
Montrose and Fourth Ward clinics in my home city of Houston, and to
provide more nurses for the poor urban communities in
[[Page H2139]]
which many of these centers are located (H.R. 1285, Nursing Relief Act
for Disadvantaged Areas).
I have also authored legislation aimed to better educate our children
(H.R. 2553, Responsible Education About Life Act in 2006) and eliminate
health disparities (H.R. 3561, Healthcare Equality and Accountability
Act and the Good Medicine Cultural Competency Act in 2003, H.R. 90).
We must continue research on treatments and antiretroviral therapies,
as well as pursue a cure. We absolutely have to ensure that everyone
who needs treatment receives it.
And we simply must increase awareness of testing, access to testing,
and the accuracy of testing. Because we will never be able to stop this
pandemic if we lack the ability to track it.
GUN VIOLENCE AND HOMICIDE
The final health challenge confronting the African-American
community, and African-American males in particular, involves the issue
of gun violence and homicide.
This must be a priority health issue for our community. Over 600,000
Americans are victimized in handgun crimes each year, and the African-
American community is among the hardest hit.
It was only a little over a week ago that one of my constituents was,
caught in a cross fire that ended his life.
Neither the mind nor the heart can contemplate a cause that could
lead a human being to inflict such injury and destruction on fellow
human beings.
Since 1978, on average, 33 young black males between the ages of 15
and 24 are murdered every six days. Three-quarters of these victims are
killed by firearms.
In 1997, firearm homicide was the number one cause of death for
African-American men ages 15-34, as well as the leading cause of death
for all African-American 15-24 year olds. The firearm death rate for
African-Americans was 2.6 times that of whites.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, the firearms suicide
rate amongst African-American youths aged 10-19 more than doubled over
a 15 year period. Although African-Americans have had a historically
lower rate of suicide than whites, the rate for African-Americans 15-19
has reached that of white youths aged 15-19.
A young African-American male is 10 times more likely to be murdered
than a young white male. The homicide rate among African-American men
aged 15 to 24 rose by 66 percent from 1984 to 1987, according to the
Centers for Disease Control.
Ninety-five percent of this increase was due to firearm-related
murders. For African-American males, aged 15 to 19, firearm homicides
have increased 158 percent from 1985 to 1993. In 1998, 94 percent of
the African-American murder victims were slain by African-American
offenders.
In 1997, African-American males accounted for 45 percent of all
homicide victims, while they only account for 6 percent of the entire
population.
It is scandalous that a 15-year-old urban African-American male faces
a probability of being murdered before reaching his 45th birthday that
ranges from almost 8.5 percent in the District of Columbia to less than
2 percent in Brooklyn.
By comparison, the probability of being murdered by age 45 is a mere
three-tenths of 1 percent for all white males.
Firearms have become the predominant method of suicide for African-
Americans aged 10-19 years, accounting for over 66 percent of suicides.
In Florida, for example, African-American males have an almost eight
times greater chance of dying in a firearm-related homicide than white
males. In addition, the firearm-related homicide death rate for
African-American females is greater than white males and over four
times greater than white females.
Nearly 50 percent of all homicide perpetrators give some type of
prior warning signal such as a threat or suicide note. Among the
students who commit a school-associated homicide, 20 percent were known
to have been victims of bullying and 12 percent were known to have
expressed suicidal thoughts or engage in suicidal behavior.
I have been working tirelessly in Congress to end gun violence by
introducing legislation to assist local governments and school
administrators in devising preventive measures to reduce school-
associated violent deaths.
I have introduced sensible legislation to assist law enforcement
departments, social service agencies, and school officials detect and
deter gun violence
In devising such preventive measures, at a minimum, we must focus on:
Encouraging efforts to reduce crowding, increase supervision, and
institute plans/policies to handle disputes during transition times
that may reduce the likelihood of potential conflicts and injuries.
Taking threats seriously and letting students know who and where to
go when they learn of a threat to anyone at the school and encouraging
parents, educators, and mentors to take an active role in helping
troubled children and teens.
Taking talk of suicide seriously and identifying risk factors for
suicidal behavior when trying to prevent violence toward self and
others.
Developing prevention programs designed to help teachers and other
school staff recognize and respond to incidences of bullying between
students.
Ensuring that each school has a security plan and that it is being
enforced and that school staff are trained and prepared to implement
and execute the plan.
Again, thank you all for your commitment to working to find workable
solutions to the heath and wellness challenges facing our communities.
I look forward to working with you in the months ahead to achieve our
mutual goals.
____________________