The State of Black Health: A Congressional Black Caucus Assessment During National Minority Health Month

Floor Speech

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Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my coanchor, Robin Kelly,
Congresswoman from Illinois, for being involved in this Special Order
tonight.

Thanks also to the members of the Congressional Black Caucus who are
here tonight on such an important topic.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the people at home who are tuning
in to watch this. It is truly an honor to speak to them directly in
their homes, to fight on their behalf and to advance our shared
priorities. That is why we are here tonight and every Monday night that
the House is in session--to address the diverse issues affecting
African American communities throughout our Nation and to let you know
that we are here, fighting for you every single day.

Mr. Speaker, this month is National Minority Health Month. It is a
chance to evaluate the state of black health, a chance to address
health disparities affecting racial minorities, and a chance to speak
to efforts to advance health equity. Today, African American and other
minority populations lag behind in numerous health areas, including in
the access to quality care, in timelines of care, and in health
outcomes. These disparities have devastating impacts on individuals and
families but also on our communities and our society as a whole.

There are numerous factors that contribute to the health disparities
throughout New Jersey's 10th Congressional District and throughout our
Nation as well--poverty, environmental threats, inadequate access to
health care, and educational inequities. These are such interconnected
issues that a piecemeal plan to fixing the problem will not work. A
comprehensive approach--one that focuses on providing access to quality
care for all, creating good jobs that provide a decent living, and
increasing educational opportunities for low-income communities--is
only one way to eliminate the health disparities once and for all.

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Nearly one in seven Americans identify themselves as African
American. The third-largest racial ethnic group in the United States,
African Americans have made significant social and economic progress
since the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; however, the black
community continues to face enormous challenges.

Economic data reveals startling inequities. By many of the most
important measures of economic well-being, blacks lag far behind the
majority white population. And that is just the overview of the report.
That is just the start.

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Mr. PAYNE. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlelady from Illinois. That
is so true. And as you stood there and stated those issues, that is
something that we have known for quite some time, how oral care impacts
so many other parts of your health--and as you mentioned, could really
show you the onset of diabetes.

I mention diabetes, Madam Speaker, because I have been out for
several weeks now with a foot infection. And it got pretty severe and
had to be operated on. But what has complicated the circumstance with
my foot is me being a diabetic, a very noncompliant diabetic, a
diabetic who did not take it seriously, did not take the medicines that
I should have for years.

This circumstance with my foot made it all so very clear what needed
to be done. The circumstance frightened me into doing everything that I
am supposed to now, so you are looking at a compliant diabetic. But it
is crucial, and the diabetes is what has complicated the healing of my
foot.

Now, I am a very fortunate person in this country. I am living an
American Dream that I did not realize would happen to me because of
another issue of my father losing his bout with colorectal cancer. He
was the Member prior to me, and I took his place.

But we were fortunate. We have always had good health care. We are
talking about the disparities and the inequities in this Nation for
people who are not in the positions that Representative Kelly, myself,
and other well-to-do Americans are who have health care that keeps them
alive.

Now, whether you use it or not is really up to you. But we are
afforded that opportunity to get great health care.

We are talking about people who want health care but cannot afford it
and find themselves in emergency rooms as their visit to the doctor.

They have to wait until they are very ill and go to the emergency room,
which is how they get their health care. That costs this Nation
millions and billions of dollars.

But what the Affordable Care Act has done is given a lot of these
people the opportunity to get pre-screenings and pro-care prior to
showing up at the emergency room.

So whether people realize it or not, you end up paying for these
people who cannot afford their own health care in your premium, because
someone is going to cover it. The insurance companies aren't going to
just cover it. The hospitals aren't, so we pay it in our premiums.

So as you get more people their own health care, it drives the cost
down. It will drive the cost down in this Nation, and we will all
benefit from more people being healthier. That is what the Affordable
Care Act is about. That is what it does. That is what it does.

I am so fortunate to live in this Nation, to be able to represent the
10th Congressional District of the State of New Jersey, and to stand
here and fight for not only the people of the 10th District of New
Jersey, but every American that deserves an equal opportunity. That is
what it is about.

It is not about favor; it is about the opportunity, the equal
opportunity. And we see these disparities, iniquities in health care,
in economics all across the board, all across this Nation.

It is incumbent upon us as the Congressional Black Caucus to speak up
for the residents that we represent, children and infants.

You know, even in the 21st century, health disparities are stark,
especially in African American communities, where life expectancies are
lower and infant mortality rates are higher. Children of color who live
below the poverty line are much more likely to suffer from asthma,
develop ADHD, and contract diseases because they can't afford
vaccinations. It is the situation across the board. Cancer, African
Americans have the highest death rate and the shortest survival rate of
any racial ethnic group in the United States. And it just goes on and
on.

It is important that we get the message out. And we will continue to
fight with Representative Robin Kelly, head of the Health Braintrust. I
know the work that she will do on behalf of the American people.

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