[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 69 (Wednesday, April 21, 2021)]
[House]
[Page H2002]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
TRI-CAUCUS RESOLUTION ON COVID-19 VACCINE EQUITY
(Ms. CHU asked and was given permission to address the House for 1
minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
Ms. CHU. Madam Speaker, as chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific
American Caucus, I rise today to join my colleagues in the Tri-Caucus
to ensure equitable access to the COVID-19 vaccine for communities of
color.
While we are all equally susceptible to the coronavirus, we are not
all equally impacted by it. Communities of color are disproportionately
likely to be in frontline jobs with greater exposure to the virus; have
less access to quality healthcare; and, as a result, have been
experiencing higher infection and mortality rates throughout the
pandemic.
With over 150 deaths per 100,000 cases, Native Hawaiians and Pacific
Islanders have one of the highest mortality groups of all groups from
this virus.
That is why we will be introducing a resolution to address this. If
we rely on communities of color to get us through this pandemic, then
we need to ensure they are provided equitable access to the vaccine so
they can stay healthy. We must ensure all Americans have an equal shot
to be vaccinated.
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