Sheila Jackson Lee: “The Food and Drug Administration is working to increase the participation of people in racial, ethnic, and other…”

“The Food and Drug Administration is working to increase the participation of people in racial, ethnic, and other minority groups in the clinical trials that test new medical products. So I would indicate that this particular amendment is to give greater focus to ensure that we have access to these individuals. Again, diabetes in minority communities is surging. The difficulty of getting access to insulin is also a conspicuous medical concern. But certain medical illnesses have been known to have a higher prevalence in certain demographic groups, including Type 2 diabetes, lupus, sickle cell anemia, and triple-negative breast cancer. This particular amendment is, of course, helping to end, or to work on improving the access at this time. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro). Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of this amendment. African American adults are almost twice as likely to suffer from diabetes as White adults and are also more likely to suffer from serious complications, such as limb amputations. I agree with the gentlewoman that increasing the representation of African Americans among biomedical researchers, as well as participants in clinical trials, is essential to addressing disparities in health outcomes for African Americans suffering from this disease.…”