PRINTER'S NO. 3510
No. 629 Session of 2004
INTRODUCED BY WHEATLEY, ARMSTRONG, BALDWIN, BEBKO-JONES,
BELARDI, BELFANTI, BROWNE, CAWLEY, COLEMAN, CORRIGAN, COY,
CRAHALLA, CREIGHTON, DENLINGER, DiGIROLAMO, DONATUCCI,
J. EVANS, FABRIZIO, FORCIER, FRANKEL, GABIG, GEIST, GEORGE,
GOOD, GOODMAN, GRUCELA, HARHAI, HENNESSEY, HORSEY, LaGROTTA,
LAUGHLIN, LEACH, LEDERER, LEWIS, MAJOR, MANDERINO, MANN,
MARKOSEK, McGILL, McILHATTAN, MUNDY, O'NEILL, PALLONE, PAYNE,
PISTELLA, READSHAW, ROEBUCK, RUBLEY, SANTONI, SATHER,
SCAVELLO, SHANER, SOLOBAY, STURLA, SURRA, TANGRETTI, THOMAS,
TIGUE, WALKO, WATERS, WOJNAROSKI, ROSS AND HERSHEY,
MARCH 23, 2004
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
MARCH 23, 2004
A RESOLUTION
1 Recognizing the month of April 2004 as "National Minority Health
2 Month" in Pennsylvania.
3 WHEREAS, A noticeable health gap has been in existence
4 between nonminority and minority populations in America for many
5 years; and
6 WHEREAS, In 1914 Booker T. Washington noticed this disparity
7 and began the first "Health Improvement Week" in America to
8 highlight these concerns; and
9 WHEREAS, Following the ideas of Booker T. Washington, in 2000
10 the United States Surgeon General announced the goal of
11 eliminating disparities in health access and outcomes
12 experienced by racial and ethnic minorities and promoting
13 improvements in six specific areas, including infant mortality,
1 cancer screening, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, HIV/AIDS and
2 immunizations, by 2010; and
3 WHEREAS, Despite notable progress in the overall health of
4 the nation, there is a crisis of minority health, consisting of
5 continuing disparities in the burden of illness and death
6 experienced by African-Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans,
7 Alaska Natives, Asians and Pacific Islanders compared to the
8 United States population as a whole; and
9 WHEREAS, Minorities suffer more than 60,000 excess deaths
10 annually compared to nonminorities; and
11 WHEREAS, Minorities are more likely than nonminorities to die
12 from cancer, cardiovascular disease, stroke, chemical
13 dependency, diabetes, infant mortality and AIDS; and
14 WHEREAS, Minority populations are not benefiting equitably
15 from advances in medical research and technology; and
16 WHEREAS, Minority populations face substantial cultural,
17 social and economic barriers to obtaining access to quality
18 health care; and
19 WHEREAS, Minorities have made significant contributions to
20 the United States, yet are underrepresented in the health care
21 professions; and
22 WHEREAS, The crisis in minority health results in losses of
23 billions of dollars by the United States because of reduced
24 productivity and increased health care expenditures; and
25 WHEREAS, During April 2004 the University of Pittsburgh's
26 Center for Minority Health is sponsoring in partnership with
27 local and national organizations a number of health promotion
28 events focusing on health disparity priority areas; therefore be
29 it
30 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives support efforts
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1 to promote healthy lifestyles and to reduce the health disparity
2 between nonminority and minority populations; and be it further
3 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the
4 month of April 2004 as "National Minority Health Month" in
5 Pennsylvania.
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