[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 157 (Friday, September 11, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E830]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            HOPE AND HEALTH EQUITY FOR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ADRIANO ESPAILLAT

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 11, 2020

  Mr. ESPAILLAT. Madam Speaker, nearly six months have passed since the 
novel corona virus 2019 (COVID-19) was declared a public health 
emergency in the United States. At this moment in time, we have seen 
over 192,000 deaths nationwide due to COVID-19, with a disproportionate 
share of those impacted being Black and African American and Hispanic 
and Latino Americans.
  The disparity in the number of cases, hospitalizations, and deaths is 
stunning. The rate of COVID-19 cases in Black and African American or 
Hispanic and Latino Americans are 2.6 times and 2.8 times, 
respectively, greater than white Americans. Black and African American 
patients are dying at 2.4 times the rate of white Americans. Hispanic 
or Latino Americans are hospitalized at 4.6 times the rate of white 
Americans. We can quantify this disparity by the incidence and 
prevalence of this disease by race and ethnicity, but we have a 
responsibility to understand how these disparities are rooted and 
linked to social determinants of health already present in minority and 
underserved communities that compound the disproportionate impact of 
COVID-19.
  In New York's 13th Congressional District, we have seen the 
disproportionate impact of this disease in all parts of our community 
from Harlem to Washington Heights to Inwood and into the Bronx. In our 
community we have dedicated health care providers--extraordinary 
professionals of all backgrounds, experience, and expertise--who have 
gone to extraordinary lengths to care for COVID-19 patients. Among 
these health care heroes are groups like SOMOS Community Care and the 
Visiting Nurse Service of New York who have demonstrated incredible 
agility in caring for their patients who are most vulnerable and in 
need.
  They understand how patient care and interventions need can best be 
tailored to meet the challenge of COVID-19 or otherwise in the 
hospital, clinic, and home settings. This is a tremendous benefit for 
the patient and their family members, and I am grateful for the work 
they continue to provide especially in providing palliative and hospice 
care. These are fields of care that we may not often think about until 
the moment that we or a loved one need this care the most. But these 
are important tools that we must utilize in order to address social 
determinants of health as we move towards better outcomes and quality 
of life for patients.
  In these past six months, we have learned a great deal about this 
COVID-19 disease and best practices to care for vulnerable populations 
in underserved communities. The Visiting Nurse Service of New York 
PROJECT HOPE Physicians and Health Leaders' Summit is a great 
opportunity to share what we have seen and learned through this 
pandemic and apply the best practices towards immediate and future 
health care planning and delivery. As this group of health care 
professionals convenes, I join in their Day of HOPE and Equity for 
Communities of Color in New York and reject the premise that one's zip 
code defines their life span and health.

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