[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 84 (Thursday, May 18, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1754-S1755]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




PROMOTING MINORITY HEALTH AWARENESS AND SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS 
                   OF NATIONAL MINORITY HEALTH MONTH

  Mr. SCHUMER. I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the 
consideration of S. Res. 221, submitted earlier today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 221) promoting minority health 
     awareness and supporting the goals and ideals of National 
     Minority Health Month in April 2023, which include bringing 
     attention to the health disparities faced by minority 
     populations of the United States such as American Indians, 
     Alaska Natives, Asian Americans, African Americans, 
     Hispanics, and Native Hawaiians or other Pacific Islanders.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, last month was National Minority Health 
Month. Senator Scott of South Carolina joined me in introducing a 
Senate resolution commemorating National Minority Health Month. We 
couldn't quite get it over the finish line before the end of April, but 
I am pleased the Senate is poised to pass the resolution now.
  National Minority Health Month has its origins in National Negro 
Health Week, which Booker T. Washington established in 1915 to address 
the poor health status of African Americans in the early 20th century.
  The commemorative month is helpful because it improves the public's 
awareness of the health challenges that disproportionately affect 
racial and ethnic minorities in the United States. It helps us to 
celebrate the progress we have made in addressing health disparities. 
Most important, it is a measure to recommit ourselves to tackling the 
longstanding health disparities that still exist.
  Today, because of historical and contemporary injustices across our 
society, including those in the healthcare system, communities of color 
continue to face health disparities that result in poorer quality of 
life and lower life expectancies when compared to their White 
counterparts. For people of color who identify as lesbian, gay, 
bisexual, or transgender--LGBT--these disparities are often 
exacerbated.
  Disparities in healthcare access, treatment, and outcomes are 
significant for a variety of reasons. Most important, these disparities 
limit the health of the Nation overall. The U.S. population today is 
more racially and ethnically diverse than at any other time in our 
history. According to the 2020 census, nearly 4 in 10 Americans 
identify with a race or ethnic group other than White. In a nation as 
diverse as ours and one that is meant to treat everyone equally, it is 
immoral for certain populations to receive inadequate, inaccessible, or 
poor medical care.
  In addition to ethical considerations, health inequities result in 
significant costs to our economy. According to a recent analysis, 
racial disparities amount to approximately $93 billion in excess 
medical care costs and $42 billion in lost productivity per year, as 
well as additional economic losses due to premature deaths.
  For the health of our families, communities, States and Nation, it is 
critical that we work to advance policies that will move in the 
direction of achieving health equity.
  In recent years, we have faced a variety of serious public health 
challenges that have clearly highlighted health disparities. Whether we 
are discussing the COVID-19 pandemic, the outbreak of monkeypox last 
summer, or the spread of respiratory illnesses like the flu and RSV 
this past winter, these public health challenges have shown that we 
must respond appropriately and in a timely fashion to ensure that 
vulnerable communities receive the resources and care they need.
  Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, for instance, public health data 
has shown that people of color experienced a disproportionate share of 
cases and deaths due to this disease. According to data from the 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention--CDC--released in December 
2022, American Indian or Alaska Native adults are 2.5 times more likely 
to be hospitalized and twice as likely to die from COVID-19 than White 
individuals. Similarly, Black and Hispanic adults are more likely to be 
hospitalized and more likely to die from COVID-19. Racial disparities 
were also found in access to COVID-19 vaccination for the first few 
months of vaccine deployment.
  At the time, I fought for additional outreach and better data to 
close the vaccination rate gap. Thanks in part to a strong focus on 
these efforts, the gaps in COVID-19 vaccination rates finally narrowed 
several months after vaccine deployment initially began, but they 
should not have existed in the first place.
  The COVID-19 pandemic also exacerbated our Nation's behavioral health 
crisis as social isolation contributed to spikes in anxiety, 
depression, substance abuse, domestic violence, and suicide. Adults and 
children across all groups continue to experience increased behavioral 
health issues, but the burden on minority populations is heaviest.

[[Page S1755]]

  For American Indian and Alaska Native adults, the death rate from 
suicide is about 20 percent higher than the White population. In 2019, 
suicide was the leading and second leading cause of death for Native 
Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders and African Americans aged 15 to 24, 
respectively. High school-aged Asian American males were 30 percent 
more likely to consider attempting suicide than White male students. 
This is why I continue to work with my colleagues to improve access to 
behavioral healthcare for everyone.
  Prior to the pandemic, people of color and other underserved groups 
faced longstanding disparities in health, and today, many of these 
inequities continue to persist. Across a variety of health measures, 
including infant mortality, pregnancy-related deaths, overall physical 
and mental health status, and prevalence of chronic conditions, 
minority groups continue to fare worse than white individuals. Life 
expectancy is another area where racial and ethnic disparities are 
clearly apparent. Today, life expectancy among Black people is nearly 6 
years lower than White people, with the lowest expectancy among Black 
men.
  When we consider chronic diseases like diabetes, minority populations 
also fare worse than White people. Diabetes rates for Black, Hispanic, 
and American Indian and Alaska Native adults are all higher than the 
rate for White adults. These disparities can often be exacerbated for 
people of color who identify as LGBTQ, who are more likely to 
experience certain health challenges like substance abuse, mental 
health conditions, violence, and sexually transmitted infections at 
increased rates. I could go on and on.
  To address health inequities, we must tackle their underlying causes, 
many of which are born out of inadequate access to care for minority 
populations, high costs of healthcare, and other social, economic, and 
environmental factors, which are known as ``social determinants of 
health.'' Factors like one's income level, as well as access to 
transportation, education, and housing play a key role in health and 
well-being.
  Accessible and affordable health coverage is key to addressing health 
inequities. I am proud of the work we did to pass the Affordable Care 
Act--ACA--which expanded health coverage to millions of Americans 
across the country. I am also pleased that we built on the success of 
the ACA through the American Rescue Plan to extend care to an 
additional 5.8 million Americans, including 181,000 Marylanders. We 
have unfinished business, however, as recent Census Bureau data show 
that minority groups are still less likely to have health insurance 
than their White counterparts.
  I am proud of the work that the National Institutes of Health--NIH--
based in Maryland, and NIH's National Institute for Minority Health & 
Health Disparities--NIMHD--are doing to advance the field of scientific 
research into health disparities.
  The evidence-based research that NIMHD invests in at institutions 
throughout the country is expanding the scientific knowledge base and 
informing practice and policy to reduce health disparities. Some recent 
work of NIMHD has focused on the benefits of Medicaid expansion for 
young adults; the prevention, treatment, and management of co-morbid 
chronic diseases; and COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy within communities of 
color. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues on both 
sides of the aisle to build on this progress.
  As we recognize April as National Minority Health Month, let us 
rededicate ourselves to ensuring that all Americans have access to 
affordable, high-quality healthcare and renew our pledge to do 
everything possible to eliminate health disparities and achieve health 
equity once and for all.
  Mr. SCHUMER. I know of no further debate on the resolution.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. If there is no further debate, the question is 
on agreeing to the resolution.
  The resolution (S. Res. 221) was agreed to.
  Mr. SCHUMER. I ask unanimous consent that the preamble be agreed to, 
and that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the 
table with no intervening action or debate.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  (The resolution, with its preamble, is printed in today's Record 
under ``Submitted Resolutions.'')

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