Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 189, the John Lewis NIMHD Research Endowment Revitalization Act of 2021, which expands eligibility for research endowments available through the National…
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 189, the John Lewis NIMHD Research Endowment Revitalization Act of 2021, which expands eligibility for research endowments available through the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) to include former centers of excellence at health professional schools and biomedical and behavioral research institutions
that meet criteria related to the inclusion of underrepresented minority individuals in programs and activities.
NIMHD leads scientific research to improve minority health and eliminate health disparities by researching and evaluating all minority health and health disparities research at NIH.
The NIMHD's Centers of Excellence (COE)'s program fosters collaborative research in minority health and health disparities, and awards grants to institutions that have a specific unifying focus on addressing minority health and health disparities.
NIMHD Centers of Excellence program grants are awarded in order to:
Support innovative multi- and trans-disciplinary research to promote minority health and reduce health disparities;
Strengthen exemplary research training and education activities support the development of well-trained researchers from minority and health disparity populations;
Increase the number of individuals from minority and other health disparity populations participating in research activities; and
Provide support for engaging minority and other health disparity communities in effective and sustainable activities aimed at improving the health of their communities.
Racial health inequalities in the U.S. is the cumulative result of both past and present discrimination throughout U.S. culture, and the NIMHD centers of racial excellence program grants are essential to addressing these inequalities.
African Americans are not only more susceptible to disease and illness, they are also more likely to die from them.
This past year, as COVID-19 has ravaged African Americans and communities of color, we have seen firsthand the fruits of these inequalities.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), African Americans face increased risks if they are stricken with COVID- 19, including asthma, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and pulmonary illness.
African American lives are placed at greater risk because of a health care system that denies access to the poor and work conditions that have long neglected conditions that leave them with a higher incidence of diseases that for far too long have gone under diagnosed and untreated.
There are many reasons for this but they include the refusal of several states to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act; the resistance of small business employers to provide health care to workers until required by their state government to do so, and too little access to medical doctors who are trained to provide care to this COVID-19 at-risk population.
Since 2003, I have been working on major legislation to address the problem with several of my colleagues including Representatives Elijah E. Cummings, Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), Delegate Donna Christensen, Chair of the CBC Health Braintrust, U.S. Senator Edward Kennedy, and the leadership of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, and the Native American Caucus.
Together we produced, the ``Healthcare Equality and Accountability Act of 2003,'' a truly comprehensive bill designed to address the disparities that face our communities.
During my time in office, I have fully and eagerly supported all legislation that has given increased attention to HIV/AIDS, including the Ryan White CARE Act, which is currently slated to receive about $2.2 billion in funding for FY2007.
I have supported legislation to reauthorize funding for community health centers (H.R. 5573, Health Centers Renewal Act of 2006), including the Montrose and Fourth Ward clinics in my home city of Houston, as well as supported legislation to provide more nurses for the poor urban communities in which many of these centers are located (H.R. 1285, Nursing Relief Act for Disadvantaged Areas).
I have also supported and introduced legislation aimed to better educate our children (H.R. 2553, Responsible Education About Life Act in 2006) and eliminate health disparities (H.R. 3561, Healthcare Equality and Accountability Act and the Good Medicine Cultural Competency Act in 2003, H.R. 90).
Mr. Speaker, we need strong collaborations and research based upon asking the right questions in specific areas, and the COEs are poised to emphasize scientific inquiry that will promote health equity.
Government has an obligation to seek the best for our nation's people, especially our nation's children.
I urge all members to join me in voting to pass H.R. 189, the John Lewis NIMHD Research Endowment Revitalization Act of 2021, because improved public health benefits all Americans, no matter who they are or where they are from.
