[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 65 (Thursday, April 15, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E402-E403]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     JOHN LEWIS NIMHD RESEARCH ENDOWMENT REVITALIZATION ACT OF 2021

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 14, 2021

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 189, the John 
Lewis NIMHD Research Endowment Revitalization Act of 2021, which 
expands eligibility for research endowments available through the 
National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) to 
include former centers of excellence at health professional schools and 
biomedical and behavioral research institutions

[[Page E403]]

that meet criteria related to the inclusion of underrepresented 
minority individuals in programs and activities.
  NIMHD leads scientific research to improve minority health and 
eliminate health disparities by researching and evaluating all minority 
health and health disparities research at NIH.
  The NIMHD's Centers of Excellence (COE)'s program fosters 
collaborative research in minority health and health disparities, and 
awards grants to institutions that have a specific unifying focus on 
addressing minority health and health disparities.
  NIMHD Centers of Excellence program grants are awarded in order to:
  Support innovative multi- and trans-disciplinary research to promote 
minority health and reduce health disparities;
  Strengthen exemplary research training and education activities 
support the development of well-trained researchers from minority and 
health disparity populations;
  Increase the number of individuals from minority and other health 
disparity populations participating in research activities; and
  Provide support for engaging minority and other health disparity 
communities in effective and sustainable activities aimed at improving 
the health of their communities.
  Racial health inequalities in the U.S. is the cumulative result of 
both past and present discrimination throughout U.S. culture, and the 
NIMHD centers of racial excellence program grants are essential to 
addressing these inequalities.
  African Americans are not only more susceptible to disease and 
illness, they are also more likely to die from them.
  This past year, as COVID-19 has ravaged African Americans and 
communities of color, we have seen firsthand the fruits of these 
inequalities.
  According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 
African Americans face increased risks if they are stricken with COVID-
19, including asthma, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and 
pulmonary illness.
  African American lives are placed at greater risk because of a health 
care system that denies access to the poor and work conditions that 
have long neglected conditions that leave them with a higher incidence 
of diseases that for far too long have gone under diagnosed and 
untreated.
  There are many reasons for this but they include the refusal of 
several states to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act; the 
resistance of small business employers to provide health care to 
workers until required by their state government to do so, and too 
little access to medical doctors who are trained to provide care to 
this COVID-19 at-risk population.
  Since 2003, I have been working on major legislation to address the 
problem with several of my colleagues including Representatives Elijah 
E. Cummings, Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), Delegate 
Donna Christensen, Chair of the CBC Health Braintrust, U.S. Senator 
Edward Kennedy, and the leadership of the Congressional Hispanic 
Caucus, the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, and the Native 
American Caucus.
  Together we produced, the ``Healthcare Equality and Accountability 
Act of 2003,'' a truly comprehensive bill designed to address the 
disparities that face our communities.
  During my time in office, I have fully and eagerly supported all 
legislation that has given increased attention to HIV/AIDS, including 
the Ryan White CARE Act, which is currently slated to receive about 
$2.2 billion in funding for FY2007.
  I have supported 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, as well as supported legislation to provide more nurses for 
the poor urban communities in which many of these centers are located 
(H.R. 1285, Nursing Relief Act for Disadvantaged Areas).
  I have also supported and introduced 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).
  Mr. Speaker, we need strong collaborations and research based upon 
asking the right questions in specific areas, and the COEs are poised 
to emphasize scientific inquiry that will promote health equity.
  Government has an obligation to seek the best for our nation's 
people, especially our nation's children.
  I urge all members to join me in voting to pass H.R. 189, the John 
Lewis NIMHD Research Endowment Revitalization Act of 2021, because 
improved public health benefits all Americans, no matter who they are 
or where they are from.

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