WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Alex Padilla (D-CA), and Mazie Hirono (D-HI) reintroduced a Senate Resolution to declare racism a public health crisis in the United States. This resolution aims to highlight the detrimental effects communities of color face when seeking healthcare treatment. Additionally, this resolution encourages concrete action to address health disparities and inequity across all sectors of society. U.S. Representatives Jahana Hayes (D-CT-05) and Delia C. Ramirez (D-IL-03) introduced companion legislation in the House.
“This resolution is an important step toward recognizing that communities of color, particularly Black, Indigenous, and Latino communities, face disproportionate rates of chronic illness, shorter life expectancies, and increased barriers to quality health care,” said Senator Booker. “These disparities are not accidents. They are the direct result of decades of unjust policies and systems that determine whether your air or water is clean, or how close your family is to a toxic waste site. I remain committed to working with my colleagues to dismantle the systemic injustices that continue to impact the health outcomes of communities of color across America.”
“Racism and its compounding impacts have harmed the health and well-being of communities of color across America for generations,” said Senator Padilla.“Declaring racism as a public health crisis is an initial step to bring more attention to these deep-rooted inequities, but we have much more work to do to address these disparities and deliver justice for millions of Americans.”
“Racism is deadly for people of color, adversely impacting access to health care resources and disproportionately exacerbating health outcomes of marginalized communities including life expectancy, infant mortality, maternal morbidity, risk of cancer, and more,” said Senator Hirono. “The first step in addressing a crisis is naming it, which is why I am proud to reintroduce this resolution recognizing the impacts of systemic racism on the health of minority groups, and reaffirming our commitment to addressing health disparities and inequity across all communities.”
“Across our nation, communities of color face deeply rooted and systemic barriers to quality care and health outcomes. This has resulted in lower life expectancies for people of color,” said Congresswoman Hayes. “Declaring racism a public health crisis is a step towards delivering a more equitable and healthier future for every American. It is unacceptable for anyone to be denied adequate care or access to medical resources because of race, and Congress must work to address the barriers to quality care faced by communities of color.”
“Compared to other developed countries, the United States has among the worst health care outcomes. That is especially true for communities of color, who confront systemic barriers, biases, and neglect when seeking necessary, life-saving medical care. It is time we face the facts. Racism is a public health crisis,” said Congresswoman Ramirez.“ I’m proud to join Congresswoman Hayes, Senator Booker, and Senator Hirono in introducing a resolution that challenges us to confront and combat health care disparities that put communities of color at greater risk.”
The resolution highlights the effects of systemic racism on the health and wellness of communities of color, resulting in shorter life expectancy, worsened health outcomes, and enhanced exposure to harmful or dangerous environments.
Additionally, the resolution calls on the United States Congress to:
- Establish a nationwide strategy to address health disparities and inequities across all sectors in society.
- Dismantle systemic practices and policies that perpetuate racism.
- Advance reforms to address years of neglectful and apathetic policies that have led to poor health outcomes for members of racial and ethnic minority groups.
- Promote efforts to address the social determinants of health for all racial and ethnic minority groups in the United States to move forward with urgency.
The resolution is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Andy Kim (D-NJ), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).
To read the full text of the resolution, click here.
