WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Alex Padilla, Mazie Hirono, and Cory Booker introduced a resolution today to declare racism a public health crisis. This move is aimed at encouraging Congress to create a nationwide plan to tackle health inequalities impacting various communities.
Senator Padilla stated, “Racism has harmed the health of communities of color for years. Declaring it a public health crisis helps highlight these serious issues, but this is just the beginning. We have to do more to fight these disparities and bring justice to millions of Americans.”
Senator Booker added, “This resolution acknowledges that communities of color, especially Black, Indigenous, and Latino groups, experience higher rates of chronic illnesses and face more obstacles when accessing quality healthcare. These issues are not random; they stem from decades of unfair policies. I’m dedicated to working with my colleagues to end the systemic inequalities that affect health outcomes for these communities.”
According to Senator Hirono, “Racism has a severe impact on people of color by limiting their access to healthcare and worsening health conditions like life expectancy and maternal health. Recognizing this issue is a critical first step. I’m proud to support this resolution, which highlights the harm caused by systemic racism and confirms our commitment to tackle health disparities across all communities.”
The resolution points out the long history of racism in healthcare and the ongoing challenges people of color face when seeking treatment. It discusses how systemic racism leads to shorter life expectancies, poorer health outcomes, and greater exposure to harmful environments. Furthermore, it calls for actionable steps to bridge the gaps in health equity.
Alongside this, the resolution urges Congress to:
- Eliminate systemic practices and policies that uphold racism.
- Implement reforms to address the negligence that has harmed the health of racial and ethnic minorities.
- Focus on social determinants affecting health for all racial and ethnic groups in the U.S.
In addition to the sponsoring senators, others, including Tammy Baldwin, Richard Blumenthal, Andy Kim, and Ron Wyden, are also backing the resolution.
Representatives Jahana Hayes and Delia C. Ramirez have introduced a similar resolution in the House of Representatives.
You can read the full text of the resolution here.
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