[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 221 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]
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118th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. RES. 221
Promoting minority health awareness and supporting the goals and ideals
of National Minority Health Month in April 2023, 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.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 18, 2023
Mr. Cardin (for himself, Mr. Scott of South Carolina, Mr. Padilla, Mr.
Menendez, Ms. Hirono, Mrs. Capito, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Booker, Mr. Braun,
Mr. Markey, and Mr. Brown) submitted the following resolution; which
was considered and agreed to
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Promoting minority health awareness and supporting the goals and ideals
of National Minority Health Month in April 2023, 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.
Whereas the origin of National Minority Health Month is National Negro Health
Week, established in 1915 by Dr. Booker T. Washington;
Whereas the theme for National Minority Health Month in 2023 is ``Better Health
Through Better Understanding'';
Whereas the Department of Health and Human Services has set goals and strategies
to enhance and protect the health and well-being of the people of the
United States;
Whereas African American women were as likely to have been diagnosed with breast
cancer as non-Hispanic White women, but African American women were 41
percent more likely to die from breast cancer than non-Hispanic White
women between 2015 and 2019;
Whereas African American women were twice as likely to be diagnosed with and 2.3
times more likely to die of stomach cancer than non-Hispanic White
women;
Whereas African American men are 70 percent more likely to die from a stroke
than non-Hispanic White men;
Whereas Hispanics are twice as likely as non-Hispanic Whites to be hospitalized
for end-stage renal disease caused by diabetes, and are 30 percent more
likely to die of diabetes, than non-Hispanic Whites;
Whereas Asian Americans are 40 percent more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes
than non-Hispanic Whites;
Whereas the HIV or AIDS case rate among Hispanic men is 4 times the HIV or AIDS
case rate among non-Hispanic White men;
Whereas Hispanic women are 3 times as likely as non-Hispanic White women to die
of HIV infection;
Whereas, in 2019, African Americans accounted for 42.1 percent of HIV infections
and Hispanic Americans accounted for almost 30 percent of HIV
infections;
Whereas, in 2019, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders were 2.4 times more
likely to be diagnosed with HIV than non-Hispanic Whites;
Whereas, in 2018, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders were 2.5 times more
likely to be diagnosed with diabetes than non-Hispanic Whites;
Whereas, although the prevalence of obesity is high among all population groups
in the United States, 48.1 percent of American Indian and Alaska
Natives, 51.7 percent of Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders, 38.3
percent of African Americans, 34.9 percent of Hispanics, 30 percent of
non-Hispanic Whites, and 13 percent of Asian Americans older than 18
years old were obese;
Whereas Asian American and Pacific Islander adults accounted for 30.1 percent of
chronic Hepatitis B cases, and non-Hispanic White adults accounted for
13.5 percent of chronic Hepatitis B cases;
Whereas heart disease, stroke, cancer, and diabetes are some of the leading
causes of death among American Indians and Alaska Natives;
Whereas American Indians and Alaska Natives have higher prevalence and are at a
higher risk of diabetes, substance use, obesity, sudden infant death
syndrome, liver disease, viral hepatitis, and suicide than other groups
in the United States;
Whereas American Indians and Alaska Natives have a life expectancy that is 2.2
years shorter than the life expectancy of the overall population of the
United States;
Whereas African American women die from childbirth or pregnancy-related causes
at a rate that is 3 to 4 times higher than the rate for non-Hispanic
White women;
Whereas African American infants are almost 4 times more likely to die due to
complications related to low birth weight than non-Hispanic White
infants;
Whereas American Indians and Alaska Natives have an infant mortality rate twice
as high as that of non-Hispanic Whites;
Whereas American Indian and Alaska Native infants are 2.7 times more likely to
die from accidental deaths before their first birthday than non-Hispanic
White infants;
Whereas approximately 1,000 babies are born with sickle cell disease each year
in the United States, with the disease occurring in approximately 1 in
365 newborn Black or African-American infants and 1 in 16,300 newborn
Hispanic-American infants, and can be found in individuals of
Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, Asian, and Indian origin;
Whereas, while more than 1 in 6 older adults have untreated cavities, non-
Hispanic Black older adults have between 2 and 3 times the rate of
untreated cavities as non-Hispanic White older adults;
Whereas the 2022 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report found
American Indians and Alaska Natives received worse care than non-
Hispanic Whites for 43 percent of quality measures;
Whereas, as of 2023, with respect to hospitalizations due to COVID-19, American
Indians and Alaska Natives are 2.4 times more likely, African Americans
are 2.1 times more likely, and Hispanics are 1.8 times more likely to be
hospitalized compared to non-Hispanic Whites;
Whereas, as of 2023, with respect to deaths due to COVID-19, American Indians
and Alaska Natives are 2 times more likely, African Americans are 1.6
times more likely, and Hispanics are 1.7 times more likely to die
compared to non-Hispanic Whites; and
Whereas the health innovations of the United States present a unique opportunity
to improve public health and health care practices across the United
States and to reduce disparities among racial and ethnic minority
populations: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate supports the recognition of National
Minority Health Month in April 2023, which includes bringing attention
to the health disparities faced by minority populations in the United
States, such as American Indians, Alaska Natives, Asian Americans,
African Americans, Hispanics, and Native Hawaiians or other Pacific
Islanders.
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