[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 11]
[House]
[Page 14423]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               EQUAL RIGHTS FOR HEALTH CARE ACT--TITLE 42

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Richardson) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce H.R. 2744, the 
Equal Rights for Health Care Act--Title 42. The concept of equal rights 
is a pillar of our Nation and the reason why so many immigrate here to 
the United States.
  Indeed, the U.S. was founded on the principle that all Americans 
should have the inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of 
happiness. In order to enjoy this blessing of life and liberty, 
however, one must be healthy, and that means they have the benefit of 
equal treatment and research.
  For example, men and women have different symptoms when it comes to 
heart disease. Unlike men, most women do not experience chest pain. 
Instead, 71 percent of the women report having flu-like symptoms, and 
patients, doctors, and researchers need to make sure that emergency 
attendants, tests, and prescription drugs are informed about the 
differences that we might have.
  H.R. 2744, the Equal Rights for Health Care Act--Title 42, will 
prohibit discrimination in health care services and research programs 
that receive Federal funding based upon sex, race, color, national 
origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability status.
  Civil rights laws have historically been a powerful mechanism for 
effecting necessary change in the United States. Each law represents a 
national commitment to end discrimination and to establish a mandate to 
bring the excluded into the mainstream. These equal rights laws ensure 
that the Federal Government delivers on the Constitution's promise of 
equal opportunities so that every individual has the right to develop 
his or her talents. Health care should be no exception.
  In 1971, only 18 percent of women, compared to 26 percent of men, had 
completed 4 years or more of college. In 1972, the title IX amendment 
was introduced by Representatives Edith Green of Oregon and Patsy Mink 
of Hawaii. In 1980, I attended the University of California, Santa 
Barbara, where I played on the women's basketball team. I witnessed 
firsthand that there was a difference between playing on the women's 
team and the men's team. For example, for women, we had to travel in 
two or three vans to go to all of our away games, where the men were 
allowed to fly on a plane. You might say why is that something that was 
important? Well, we lost instruction time, we had time in general lost, 
preparation was lost, and recuperation was lost. That's why title IX 
was so important.
  In 2007, we celebrated the 35th anniversary of title IX, which 
assured the women's right to education equality. And the U.S. 
Department of Education showed that 56 percent of all women, compared 
to 44 percent of men, now have achieved 4 years or more of college. So 
title IX has been working.
  Federal law prohibits discrimination across a wide array of public 
policy arenas, none more than when you consider the difference between 
voting, public education, and now what we should do in health care.
  H.R. 2744, the Equal Rights for Health Care Act--Title 42, seeks to 
have the same effect on the health care community. Despite access to 
health care, patients are not always in geographic proximity to medical 
facilities that can provide the consistent care that is needed.
  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the age-
adjusted death rate for all cancers for African Americans in 2001 was 
20 percent higher than Caucasian Americans. In 2002, the percentage of 
Hispanics and Latinos who were 65 years or older and received adult 
immunization shots was only 47 percent, as compared to 70 percent of 
Caucasians.
  In 2000, the infant mortality rate among Native Hawaiians was 60 
percent higher than Caucasians.

                              {time}  2000

  And the rate of leg amputations as a result of diabetes is four times 
greater of African Americans who receive Medicare than their 
counterparts, Caucasians.
  A list of disparities can go on and on, and so we must put an end to 
this inequality. Therefore, I have introduced H.R. 2744 so that 
Congress can take another step towards equal rights, and I look forward 
to my colleagues on both sides of the aisle joining me.
  I'm proud to have a long list of diverse organizations that are 
supporting this legislation, groups such as the Family Equality 
Council, the Families United States of America, and, lastly, the 
National Minority Quality Forum.
  I urge all my colleagues to support this legislation that ensures 
that equal services once and for all will also extend to health care as 
well, from diagnosis to treatment, and it's a part of the fast-growing 
health care debate. It's important that a statement of beliefs is made 
when we reform health care. Equality must be a founding principle, and 
we must insist that as health care debates move forward, we take the 
time to ensure that all Americans have the same rights. Let's move 
forward on title XLII as we did in title IX.

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