[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 18]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 26007]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



 MINORITY HEALTH AND HEALTH DISPARITIES RESEARCH AND EDUCATION ACT OF 
                                  2000

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. J.C. WATTS, JR.

                              of oklahoma

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, October 1, 2000

  Mr. WATTS of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I would like to begin by thanking 
my House colleagues John Lewis, Bennie Thompson, Charlie Norwood, and 
Jesse Jackson, Jr. who are champions in this important effort to 
address the issue of minority health disparities. This is a matter of 
deep concern to not only African-Americans, but also to Hispanic-
Americans, Native-Americans, and other minorities who are clearly 
underserved by the American health care system.
  Despite continuing advances in research and medicine, disparities in 
American health care are a growing problem. This is evidenced by the 
fact that minority Americans lag behind in nearly every single measure 
of health quality. Those measures include life expectancy, health care 
coverage, access to care, and disease rates. Ethnic minorities and 
individuals in medically underserved rural communities continue to 
suffer disproportionately from many diseases such as cancer, diabetes, 
and cardiovascular diseases. There have been numerous studies in 
scientific journals showing the severity of racial and ethnic health 
disparities and the need for action in order to remedy this grave 
problem.
  For these and countless other reasons, it is time for the Nation to 
focus on this problem and to work to bring fairness to our minority 
citizens in the Nation's public and private health care systems. There 
is no better place to start this effort than the focal point for 
Federal health research, the renowned and highly respected National 
Institutes of Health.
  Since 1996, Congress has increased funding for basic medical research 
at NIH from $12 billion to over $18 billion--over a 50 percent 
increase. These funds support 50,000 scientists working at 2,000 
institutions across the United States. I have been proud to support 
these increases, but I think it is now time that we target some portion 
of those funds on the Nation's most acute health problems among our 
minority citizens--and I might add, minority taxpayers.
  Let me say that I am delighted to be a cosponsor of H.R. 3250. Among 
other provisions, this legislation will elevate the existing office of 
Research on Minority Health at NIH to a National Center for Research on 
Minority Health. This upgrade to the level of National Center would in 
itself underscore the importance of this work, and along with expanded 
research and education, improved data systems and strengthened public 
awareness, we will be taking a great leap forward in addressing this 
critical national problem.
  The Minority Health and Health Disparities Research and Education Act 
will increase our knowledge of the nature and causes of health 
disparities, improve the quality and outcomes of health care services 
for minority populations, and aid in bringing us closer to our mutual 
goal of closing the long-standing gap in health care.
  I am deeply committed to this legislation, and I urge you to support 
my colleagues and me in our effort to rectify this inequality in health 
care.

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