Declaring racism a public health crisis.
- Bill Number
- H.Res. 119
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Health
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-02-06: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-07T20:37:33Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
H. Res. 119 aims to formally recognize racism as a public health crisis in the United States. It highlights historical and ongoing racial inequities in health outcomes, attributes them to systemic racism, and calls for urgent action to address these issues through policy reforms and societal commitment. As a House resolution, it serves as a symbolic declaration rather than enforceable law, expressing the House of Representatives' stance and encouraging broader efforts to reduce health disparities.
Key Provisions Outlined
The resolution is structured around extensive "Whereas" clauses that provide evidence and context, followed by a "Resolved" section with specific commitments:
- Support for Local Efforts: Endorses resolutions by cities and localities declaring racism a public health crisis.
- National Declaration: Explicitly declares racism a public health crisis, defined by its widespread impact, unfair distribution across populations, potential for prevention, and lack of current measures.
- Commitments by the House:
- Establish a nationwide strategy to tackle health disparities across society.
- Dismantle systemic practices and policies that perpetuate racism (e.g., discriminatory structures in housing, employment, and healthcare).
- Advance reforms to correct neglectful policies leading to poor health outcomes for racial and ethnic minorities.
- Promote addressing social determinants of health (non-medical factors like housing, education, and environment that influence well-being).
- Call to Action: Urges the public to prioritize equality, referencing the Declaration of Independence's principles of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
The "Whereas" clauses detail:
- Racial inequities in life expectancy, maternal and infant mortality, cancer, diabetes, and COVID-19 impacts.
- Exacerbating factors for LGBTQIA+ individuals, people with disabilities, and specific groups like Black, American Indian, Alaska Native, Hispanic, Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities.
- Historical racism (e.g., slavery, Jim Crow laws, broken treaties, Chinese Exclusion Act, Japanese internment, forced sterilizations).
- Structural racism in healthcare (e.g., segregation, biased medical devices, underrepresentation in research).
- Ongoing discrimination (e.g., microaggressions, police violence, workplace bias, environmental hazards).
- Violence and trauma affecting minorities (e.g., police killings, missing and murdered Indigenous women, mass shootings).
Significant Changes to Existing Law Introduced
This resolution introduces no changes to existing law, as it is a non-binding expression of congressional opinion. It does not amend statutes, create new programs, or allocate funds. Instead, it builds on prior recognitions, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) statement that racism is a serious public health threat, and references historical laws like the Civil Rights Act of 1964 without altering them.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: May encourage agencies like the CDC, Department of Health and Human Services, and Indian Health Service to prioritize anti-racism initiatives, research, and data collection on health inequities. It could influence future funding or policy recommendations but lacks direct authority.
- On Citizens: Raises awareness of racism's health effects, potentially reducing stigma and promoting preventive measures (e.g., better access to care, equitable resource distribution). It highlights risks for minorities, fostering community empowerment and advocacy for reforms in healthcare, housing, and education.
- On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though it reaffirms U.S. commitments to human rights and equity, which could enhance the country's image in global health discussions (e.g., with organizations like the OECD). References to historical immigration policies and Indigenous treaties may underscore ongoing domestic accountability.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Racial and Ethnic Minorities: Primary beneficiaries, including Black, American Indian, Alaska Native, Hispanic/Latino, Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities, who face disproportionate health burdens from racism.
- Public Health and Medical Professionals: Doctors, researchers, and organizations like the CDC, tasked with addressing biases in care, research, and data (e.g., improving clinical trials and medical devices for diverse populations).
- Government and Policymakers: Federal, state, and local entities (e.g., Congress, health departments) urged to implement strategies and reforms.
- LGBTQIA+ and Disabled Individuals of Color: Noted as facing compounded inequities.
- Broader Society: All U.S. residents, called upon to combat racism for collective public health improvement.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Non-binding, so it carries no enforceable obligations or judicial weight. It reinforces existing anti-discrimination frameworks (e.g., Civil Rights Act, Executive Order 13166 on language access) without creating new rights or liabilities.
- Constitutional: Aligns with the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment by emphasizing equality and unalienable rights, but as a resolution, it does not interpret or challenge the Constitution. It critiques historical failures (e.g., slavery, segregation) in light of founding principles.
- Political: Represents a progressive stance on racial justice, potentially galvanizing bipartisan or partisan support for equity-focused legislation. It could influence future bills on healthcare (e.g., Medicaid expansion) or social determinants, while sparking debate on "structural racism" as a policy lens. Politically, it signals House priorities amid ongoing discussions on public health post-COVID-19 and civil rights movements.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (14)
Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3], Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Brown, Shontel M. [D-OH-11], Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila [D-FL-20], Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7], Rep. Jackson, Jonathan L. [D-IL-1], Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12], Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2], Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7], Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7], Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3]
Recent Actions
- 2025-02-06: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-02-06: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-02-06: Submitted in House
Bill Versions
- Declaring racism a public health crisis. — issued 2025-02-06 — PDF (18 pages)