Washington, DC – Today, the TriCaucus Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2007 was introduced by Rep. Hilda L. Solis (D-CA) to reduce health disparities and achieve health equity for all communities of color.

Solis, Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Task Force on Health and the Environment, and a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, was joined by Rep. Madeleine Z. Bordallo, Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Health Task Force, and Donna M. Christensen, Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Health Braintrust, along with the Chairs of the House minority caucuses.   

The Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2007 is comprehensive legislation aimed at the root causes of the current health disparities crisis - access to health care, research, and education. This bill was developed by the Health Chairs of the House minority caucuses and will help eliminate the persistent health disparities that leave millions of Americans in poorer health and more likely to die prematurely during their most productive life years.  

“I am proud to introduce the Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2007 along with my colleges of the TriCaucus.  Communities of color have been waiting seven long years for legislation that will help reduce health disparities. This legislation will improve access to services for the 14 million uninsured Latinos and increase the representation of Latino health professionals,” said Rep. Solis. “I thank our leadership for their support and look forward to working with my colleagues from the TriCaucus to move this important legislation forward.”

"This bill is about real change that will take our country a giant step forward in the elimination of health disparities and is the beginning of reform that is needed to reduce the 100,000 premature preventable deaths annually,” said Rep. Christensen. “This bill needs the support of every member on both sides of the Capitol and every American."
    
The legislation will also address health work force diversity; culturally and linguistically appropriate health care; access to health care; and data collection and analysis.

“As the Health Task Force Chairperson of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, I support this bill that gives culturally and linguistically appropriate information to members of the Asian Pacific Islander American community who represent many distinct cultures and languages,” said Rep. Bordallo. “It is crucial that health care information be provided to Asian and Pacific Islander Americans in a way that improves patient comprehension of complicated health care matters, and in a manner that will contribute to the overall quality of health care services.”

"I am thrilled to announce, with my colleagues in the Tri-Caucus, the introduction of the Health Equity and Accountability Act," said Rep. Mike Honda (CA-15), Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC). "Ethnic minorities face significant obstacles to obtaining quality healthcare, including cultural and linguistic barriers. Approximately one-third of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders live in linguistic isolation. Funding for language services authorized in this bill would improve equity in our healthcare system for millions of patients across the nation."

This bill will establish community-centric initiatives to coordinate existing resources to address health disparities and promote positive health behaviors among women and ensure that low-income legal immigrants can ensure access to health care for their children.

“The issue of health disparities is one of common concern to all of us because Hispanics, Blacks and Asian Americans all face significant challenges in getting access to quality care,” said Rep. Joe Baca, Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. “This bill increases access to quality health care for all minorities. Working with our health lead, Congresswoman Hilda L. Solis, the CHC will continue to fight to assure that our health care system works for all Americans.”

This legislation currently has 68 original cosponsors. The bill also has bipartisan support with the sponsorship of Rep. Luis Fortuño (R-P.R.). It also has the support of the Democratic leadership including Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.) and Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD) who agreed to be original co-sponsors.   

The TriCaucus is made up of Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC).