The publication is reproduced in full below:
PROMOTING MINORITY HEALTH AWARENESS AND SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS
OF NATIONAL MINORITY HEALTH MONTH
Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 613, 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. 613) promoting minority health awareness and supporting the goals and ideals of National Minority Health Month in April 2022, 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. Madam President, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing April as National Minority Health Month. For over 35 years, commemorating National Minority Health Month every April has provided us the opportunity to celebrate the progress we have made in addressing health disparities and recommit to achieving health equity. I thank my colleagues, especially Senator Scott of South Carolina, for working with me to recognize this occasion formally through a Senate resolution.
Minority groups now make up more the 40 percent of the American population, and that number will continue to rise. Health disparities persist among racial and ethnic minorities. These disparities are plainly visible if we examine the mental health crisis or diseases such as diabetes and asthma.
Adults and children across all groups continue to experience increased behavioral health issues, but the burden on minority populations is heaviest. For instance, for American Indian and Alaska Native adults the death rate from suicide is about 20 percent higher than non-Hispanic 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 non-Hispanic White male students were.
This is why I continue to work with my colleagues in the Senate Finance Committee to improve access to behavioral healthcare for everyone. I look forward to working with all of my colleagues in the Senate to get the bipartisan package signed into law and am proud to continue my work to improve behavioral health, especially through increased telehealth access.
More than 30 million Americans live with diabetes, but African-
Americans are twice as likely and Hispanics are over 1.3 times as likely to die from diabetes as non-Hispanic Whites are. African-
Americans are also over three times more likely to suffer from diabetes-related end-stage renal disease than non-Hispanic Whites are. African-Americans and Hispanics are also at higher risk of having other related complications, such as the need for lower extremity amputations.
Asthma is another disease that disproportionately harms African-
American, Hispanic, and American Indian and Alaska Native peoples. These groups have the highest asthma rates, hospitalizations, and deaths. For example, African-Americans are nearly 1.5 times more likely to have asthma than non-Hispanic White Americans and 5 times more likely to visit the emergency room due to asthma.
Social determinants of health such as access to transportation, education, housing, and income play a key role in health and well-
being. According to the Healthy Baltimore 2020 report, the discrepancy in life expectancy between higher-income and lower-income neighborhoods within the city is as high as 20 years--20 years based on one's Zip code. That is unconscionable.
To tackle health inequity, we must understand its underlying causes. I am proud of the work that the National Institutes of Health--NIH--
based in Maryland, and NIH's National Institute for Minority Health and 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 prevention, treatment, and management of comorbid chronic diseases, as well as COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy within communities of color.
COVID-19 has disproportionately affected communities of color, particularly African-Americans, Hispanic Americans, and American Indian or Alaska Native people, who are at an increased risk of getting sick, having more severe illness, and dying from COVID-19. This is why I have fought for additional outreach and better data to close this gap. As part of that effort, Senator Menendez and I introduced our legislation, the COVID-19 Health Disparities Action Act, which would support targeted and culturally competent public awareness campaigns about COVID-19 vaccines and preventive measures such as masking and social distancing.
I am glad to see NIMHD also targeting these issues through the theme of this year's National Minority Health Month, ``Give Your Community a Boost!'' which focuses on the continued importance of COVID-19 vaccination, including boosters, as one of the most effective ways to protect communities from COVID-19.
Accessible and affordable health coverage is key to addressing health inequities. I was proud to help pass the Affordable Care Act--ACA--
which expanded health coverage to millions of Americans across the country. The American Rescue Plan built on the success of the ACA and expanded care to an additional 5.8 million Americans including 181,000 Marylanders.
I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues to build on this progress.
As we recognize April as National Minority Health Month, let us recommit ourselves to ensuring all Americans have access to affordable, high-quality healthcare and renew our pledge to do everything possible to eliminate health disparities and ultimately achieve health equity for all.
Mr. SCHUMER. I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, 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 resolution (S. Res. 613) was agreed to.
The preamble was agreed to.
(The resolution, with its preamble, is printed in today's Record under ``Submitted Resolutions.'')
____________________
SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 168, No. 73
The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
Senators' salaries are historically higher than the median US income.
Alerts Sign-up