April 28, 2020 - Issue: Vol. 166, No. 80 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 2nd Session

[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E403-E404]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    INTRODUCTION OF THE HEALTH EQUITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2020

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. JESUS G. ``CHUY'' GARCIA

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 28, 2020

  Mr. GARCIA of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I rise to introduce the Health 
Equity and Accountability Act of 2020.
  The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is disproportionately affecting 
communities of color--including Latino, African American, and Asian 
American communities--who already face exacerbated risk factors for 
health inequities. This unprecedented public health crisis underscores 
the health disparities and racial inequities that have existed in the 
U.S. health care system for many years. Most importantly, it points to 
the need to implement a comprehensive and strategic plan to improve the 
health and well-being of communities of color through a health equity 
perspective, which the Health Equity Accountability Act (HEAA) puts 
forth.
  HEAA 2020 provides critical federal resources and establishes 
policies and infrastructure to eliminate long-standing health 
inequities. It would improve data collection and reporting, expand 
access to health care, build more robust telehealth systems, implement

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more culturally and linguistically appropriate care, and eliminate 
Medicaid funding limitations for the U.S. territories, among other 
priorities for the communities we represent.
  For the past 17 years, the Congressional Tri-Caucus--comprised of the 
Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), the Congressional 
Black Caucus (CBC), and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC)--has 
led to the introduction of the Health Equity and Accountability Act 
(HEAA).
  Since its initial introduction, HEAA has resulted in key legislative 
proposals that have been passed into law--such as the Affordable Health 
Care Act (ACA), the creation of the Office of Minority Health, the 
Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and the Health Information 
Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act.
  I urge this body to swiftly pass this legislation.

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