[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 5]
[Senate]
[Page 7239]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




PROMOTING MINORITY HEALTH AWARENESS AND SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS 
            OF NATIONAL MINORITY HEALTH MONTH IN APRIL 2016

  Mr. ROUNDS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 477, submitted 
earlier today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 477) promoting minority health 
     awareness and supporting the goals and ideals of National 
     Minority Health Month in April 2016, which include bringing 
     attention to the health disparities faced by minority 
     populations of the United States such as American Indians, 
     Alaskan Natives, Asian Americans, African Americans, Latino 
     Americans, and Native Hawaiians or other Pacific Islanders.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, I rise today to ask my Senate colleagues 
to join me in recognizing--belatedly--April as National Minority Health 
Month. For over 30 years, this commemorative event has provided us the 
opportunity to celebrate the progress we have made in addressing 
minority health disparities and related issues in our Nation, and to 
renew our commitment to continue this critically important effort.
  The theme of this year's National Minority Health Month observance, 
``Accelerating Health Equity for the Nation,'' reflects both a sense of 
urgency and determination in moving the country forward toward health 
equity. Minorities now make up more than 35 percent of the American 
population and that number is expected to rise in the future. Studies 
have shown, however, that disparities persist for minority populations 
and are evident in higher rates of diabetes, heart disease, hepatitis 
B, HIV/AIDS and infant mortality, among other conditions. For instance, 
over 29 million Americans suffer from diabetes. But African Americans 
are twice as likely to be diagnosed with, and to die from, diabetes 
compared to non-Hispanic Whites. In addition, nearly one-half of all 
African Americans and Latinos experience the highest rates of adult 
obesity.
  This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Department of Health & 
Human Services Office of Minority Health, which leads the Nation in 
raising awareness about minority health disparities, their causes, and 
the impact they have on minority communities and the Nation as a whole. 
To commemorate this occasion, a renewed effort is underway with public 
and private stakeholders to accelerate achieving health equity for all 
Americans through the development of research, community programs, and 
legislation. We owe it to our constituents to advance this national 
movement. For these reasons, I am proud my colleagues, Senators Hirono, 
Blumenthal, Brown, Menendez, and Schatz have joined me in introducing a 
resolution recognizing April as National Minority Health Month.
  In our country, we are incredibly fortunate to have the National 
Institutes of Health (NIH), which works tirelessly to improve the 
health of all Americans. Within the NIH, the National Institute for 
Minority Health & Health Disparities (NIMHD) has the specific mission 
of addressing minority health issues and eliminating health 
disparities. I am proud of my role in the establishment of the NIMHD, 
which supports groundbreaking research at universities and medical 
institutions across our country. This critically important work ranges 
from enhancing our understanding of the basic biological processes 
associated with health disparities to applied, clinical, and 
translational research and interventions that seek to address those 
disparities.
  Today, because of the steadfast work of committed leaders and 
individuals we have made significant strides to achieving health equity 
for all. Thanks to innovative reforms such as the Affordable Care Act 
(ACA), we have made health coverage more accessible and affordable than 
it has been in decades. By reducing the number of uninsured Americans 
across the country, the ACA is helping to address health inequalities. 
In Maryland, due to increased funding as a result of the ACA, over 
300,000 Marylanders--a majority of which come from minority 
communities--now have access to community health clinics and life-
saving health care.
  Every community across this great Nation deserves optimal health. 
One's ethnic or racial background should never determine the length or 
quality of life. As we belatedly recognize April as National Minority 
Health Month, let us renew our commitment to ensuring all Americans' 
access to affordable, high-quality health care and renew our pledge to 
do everything possible to eliminate health disparities and ultimately 
achieve health equity for all.
  Mr. ROUNDS. I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, 
the preamble be agreed to, and 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 resolution (S. Res. 477) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  (The resolution, with its preamble, is printed in today's Record 
under ``Submitted Resolutions.'')

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