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Hirono, Colleagues Reintroduce Resolution Declaring Racism a Public Health Crisis

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Alex Padilla (D-CA) 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) and Delia C. Ramirez (D-IL) introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives. 

“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.”

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 Congress to: 

  1. Establish a nationwide strategy to address health disparities and inequities across all sectors in society;
  2. Dismantle systemic practices and policies that perpetuate racism;
  3. 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; and
  4. 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. 

In addition to Senators Hirono, Booker, and Padilla, this resolution is cosponsored by Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Andy Kim (D-NJ), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

The full text of the resolution is available here.

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