Bipartisan Bustos Bill to Improve Health Takes Step Forward to Becoming Law

Press Release

Today, legislation introduced by Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (IL-17) passed the Health Subcommittee in the House Energy and Commerce Committee, clearing a major hurdle on the pathway to becoming law.

The bipartisan Social Determinants Accelerator Act would create federal grant programs to empower states, local governments, nonprofits, and nonprofit institutions of higher education to tackle persistent economic and social conditions -- like limited access to health care providers, stable housing, reliable transportation and healthy foods -- that often hinder health outcomes.

"The COVID-19 pandemic exposed many deep disparities in our health system and greatly exacerbated the already persistent barriers that many families in Illinois and across our country face to living healthy lives, such as a lack of access to fresh foods, affordable health care and safe housing to name just a few," said Congresswoman Bustos. "The Social Determinants Accelerator Act is the innovative bipartisan solution we need to finally take on these longstanding issues at the root and empower local leaders with the tools they need to create healthier communities. I'm thrilled to see this critical legislation pass another important legislative hurdle on the way to becoming law."

BACKGROUND

Economic and social conditions have a powerful impact on our health and wellness. Stable housing, reliable transportation and access to healthy foods are all factors that can make a difference in the prevention and management of many health conditions like diabetes, asthma and heart disease. Known as social determinants of health, a focus on these non-medical factors can improve health outcomes and wellbeing.

The Social Determinants Accelerator Act will help states and communities develop strategies to improve the health and wellbeing of families. As amended by the subcommittee, the bill would make up to $20 million available to improve social determinants of health:

Up to $10 million for state, local, tribal governments and qualified non-governmental entities to develop plans to target the environmental and social factors that negatively impact community members, and
Up to $10 million for nonprofit organizations and nonprofit institutions of higher education to conduct research on best practices to improve social determinants of health, as well as collect and analyze data related to social determinants of health and more.
The legislation would also provide technical assistance to grantees to help them implement plans and identify federal authorities, opportunities and strategies to tackle health care challenges.

The legislation has been endorsed by more than 80 organizations across the nation. Congresswoman Bustos also secured a first-of-its-kind pilot program, modeled after the bill, through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This new program will help local governments create plans to empower communities to fight the social factors that harm long-term health, such as health care provider shortages, food deserts, unsafe and insecure housing and other environmental factors.

In the Biden Administration's recent budget proposal, $153 million in funding was included for this program established by Congresswoman Bustos. Congresswoman Bustos secured $153 million in the Fiscal Year 2022 Labor Health and Human Services Bill that passed out of the House Appropriations Committee today.

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