[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 36, Number 47 (Monday, November 27, 2000)]
[Pages 2925-2926]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Statement on Signing the Minority Health and Health Disparities Research 
and Education Act of 2000

November 22, 2000

    Today I am pleased to sign into law S. 1880, the ``Minority Health 
and Health Disparities Research and Education Act of 2000.'' This Act 
will enhance biomedical and behavioral research on minority health and 
health disparities, support medical training for minorities and others, 
and improve the study and collection of data regarding minorities and 
other populations.
    This important legislation builds on the work of my Administration, 
particularly the efforts of the Secretary of Health and Human Services 
(HHS), Donna Shalala, to develop a truly national commitment to end 
disparities in health through research, training, and data gathering. 
Under Secretary Shalala, HHS committed to eliminate disparities in 
health by race and ethnicity by the year 2010. Eliminating disparities 
will require additional research and new approaches, but in the process 
of addressing the health needs of our most vulnerable populations, we 
will improve the Nation's health care system for everyone. This Act was 
made possible through the bipartisan efforts of the Congress; a 
multiracial coalition of leaders in public health, business, education, 
and charitable foundations; and my Administration.
    The Act creates a National Center on Minority Health and Health 
Disparities at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This Center will 
fund research programs on health disparities and minority health; 
support training of members of health disparity populations as 
researchers; and provide education loan relief for health professionals 
who commit themselves to perform health disparities research. The Center 
will also coordinate all NIH research efforts in this area. The Center 
promises to help all Americans who bear the burden of health disparities 
regardless of their race, ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status, or 
geographic location.

[[Page 2926]]

    This legislation also authorizes the Agency for Healthcare Research 
and Quality to conduct and support activities and research to measure 
health disparities and identify causes and remedies. In addition, it 
authorizes the Health Resources and Services Administration to support 
research and demonstration projects to train health professionals on 
reducing health care disparities.
    I would like to thank many individuals who helped develop and pass 
this landmark law, particularly Senators Kennedy, Frist, Jeffords, and 
Hatch, as well as Representatives Thompson, Lewis, Jackson, Jr., Watts, 
Norwood, Strickland, Brown, Bilirakis, Christensen, Towns, Rodriguez, 
Underwood, and Roybal-Allard. I also would like to acknowledge the 
diligent efforts of Secretary Shalala; David Satcher, the Surgeon 
General; Ruth Kirschstein, Principal Deputy Director of NIH; and the 
many others who worked tirelessly to bring this legislation forward.
    The elimination of health disparities will require a comprehensive 
effort, involving both the Federal Government and the private sector. 
The Federal Government must continue to make measurable progress against 
diseases and conditions that are major contributors to health 
disparities, and our commitment to health disparities research must 
ensure that new knowledge generated in federally supported laboratories 
and clinics benefits all of our citizens. We must also ensure that there 
is a diverse health care and research workforce in the future by making 
efforts to attract and train a generation of scientists and health care 
professionals who are prepared to dedicate themselves to helping 
eliminate health disparities.
                                            William J. Clinton
 The White House,
 November 22, 2000.

Note: At the time of publication, S. 1880, approved November 22, had not 
been received by the Office of the Federal Register in time for 
assignment of a public law number.