Hilda L. Solis: “Today I rise to acknowledge a tremendous achievement in the efforts to address racial and ethnic health disparities in…”

“Today I rise to acknowledge a tremendous achievement in the efforts to address racial and ethnic health disparities in this country. With the dedication of the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Mrs. Christensen), the gentleman from California (Mr. Honda), and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone), and with the guiding leadership of our leadership, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi), as well as our Senate leaders, Senator Daschle and Senator Kennedy, we have introduced a comprehensive bill to improve minority health. Currently in our country, minorities endure a disproportionate burden of illnesses. Unfortunately, our health care system is not meeting the needs of all of its people. Latinos, African Americans, Asians and Native Americans statistically outweigh nonminority whites in almost every disease, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, asthma, you name it. For instance, diabetes is a chronic illness estimated to affect 18.2 million people in this year alone. Latinos are twice as likely to have diabetes than non-Latino whites and American Indians are more than twice as likely to be diagnosed with this debilitating disease.”