FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 06, 2004

CONTACT: Brendan Daly/Jennifer Crider 202-226-7616

Pelosi Statement Observing National Public Health Week

San Francisco -- House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the following statement today in observance of National Public Health Week:

"As a nation, our diversity is our strength – economically, politically, and culturally.  But our diversity is not well served when health care disparities in minority communities go unaddressed.  During National Public Health Week, we must renew our commitment to eliminating minority health disparities.

"Minority health disparities are well documented.  For example, diabetes afflicts African Americans at a rate 70 percent higher than white Americans and afflicts Native Americans at three times the average rate; Vietnamese women suffer from cervical cancer at nearly five times the rate of white women; and Hispanic Americans have two to three times the rate of stomach cancer as white Americans.

"Despite these and other significant health care needs, minority groups often encounter obstacles in obtaining health care and are less likely to have health insurance or to receive appropriate health care services.  According to a recent study by the Kaiser Family Foundation, minority populations have substantially higher uninsured rates than white Americans.  While racial and ethnic minorities make up only about one-third of the non-elderly U.S. population, they account for more than half of uninsured Americans.  These disparities are unacceptable, and we must eliminate them once and for all. 

"Democrats have a plan that would help end these health disparities.  The Healthcare Equality and Accountability Act of 2003 (H.R. 3459/S.1833), introduced last November, would make quality health care more affordable, providing coverage for parents and young adults who are currently uninsured.  The bill would also improve data collection on race and ethnicity, strengthen health institutions that serve minority populations, increase funding for culturally and linguistically appropriate health services, increase efforts to address the shortage of minority healthcare providers, and fund community initiatives that reduce health disparities.

"This is not a partisan issue.  I urge my colleagues to join Democrats to pass this plan."

“ Democrats are united in presenting a New Direction for America, one that will make our nation as strong as its people, one that brings opportunity, security, and prosperity to all Americans. ”

Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi