Senator Boxer Cosponsors Minority Health Legislation

July 23, 2007

I am pleased to let you know that I am cosponsoring the Minority Health and Health Disparity Elimination Act, S.1576, authored by Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA).  This legislation provides grants and demonstration projects to help communities promote positive health behaviors and improve outreach, participation, and enrollment of racial and ethnic minorities in available health care programs. It also establishes collaborative partnerships led by community health centers and other programs to improve minority health in communities that have been historically burdened by health disparities.

The need for this legislation is clear.  Serious health disparities continue to exist in our country and too many people continue to live without health insurance.  Large numbers of people have no regular doctor, don’t get regular checkups, exams, screenings, mammograms, and other early detection tests. The Institute of Medicine estimates that at least 18,000 Americans die prematurely each year because they lack health coverage and the care that goes with such coverage.

Too often, these health disparities are based on race and ethnicity.  And these health disparities too often result in lower life expectancies.  Quite simply, African Americans, Native Americans Latinos, and other groups more often suffer from and die at earlier ages of preventable causes.  This should not happen in our nation and the Minority Health and Health Disparity Elimination Act seeks to remedy this.

The benefits of this bill are tremendous.  Not only would people live longer lives, they would live healthier and more productive lives.  In fact, this bill is in the interest of every American because of the lower overall healthcare costs that would result.  A healthier workforce will bring about a healthier nation.  You can count on me to work for the passage of this legislation.

Sincerely,

Barbara Boxer
United States Senator

Back to top