Urging the promotion of equity in the distribution and allocation of COVID-19 vaccines among Hispanic, Black, Asian-American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, and Native American communities.

IV 117TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. RES. 341 Urging the promotion of equity in the distribution and allocation of COVID– 19 vaccines among Hispanic, Black, Asian-American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, and Native American communities. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES APRIL 21, 2021 Mr. RUIZ (for himself, Ms. CHU, Mrs. BEATTY, Ms. BARRAGA´N, Mr. MEEKS, Ms. GARCIA of Texas, Mr. CORREA, Ms. MATSUI, Mr. PASCRELL, Mr. TAKANO, Mr. LIEU, Mr. VARGAS, Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ, Mr. EVANS, Mr. LARSON of Connecticut, Mr. MCNERNEY, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Mr. ESPAILLAT, Mr. GARCI´A of Illinois, Mr. GALLEGO, Ms. BONAMICI, Ms. MENG, Ms. NORTON, Mr. GREEN of Texas, Mr. VELA, Ms. JAYAPAL, Mrs. NAPOLITANO, Mr. CASTRO of Texas, Ms. VELA´ZQUEZ, Ms. ESCOBAR, Mr. GOMEZ, Ms. ROSS, and Mr. CARBAJAL) submitted the fol- lowing resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce RESOLUTION Urging the promotion of equity in the distribution and alloca- tion of COVID–19 vaccines among Hispanic, Black, Asian-American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, and Native American communities. Whereas the coronavirus (COVID–19) pandemic has high- lighted longstanding health, economic, and social inequi- ties with communities of color continuing to be dispropor- tionately impacted by the COVID–19 pandemic, includ- ing— VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:08 Apr 22, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR341.IH HR341 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 2 •HRES 341 IH (1) Hispanic populations being more likely to be in- fected, more than three times as likely to be hospitalized, and more than twice as likely to die from COVID–19 compared to their White counterparts; (2) Black communities being more likely to be in- fected, almost three times as likely to be hospitalized, and almost twice as likely to die from COVID–19 compared to their White counterparts; (3) Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders being more likely to be infected, hospitalized, and die from COVID–19 compared to their White counterparts and continuing to face the highest COVID–19 infection and mortality rates out of any racial group in several States; and (4) American Indian or Alaska Natives being almost twice as likely to be infected, three times as likely to be hospitalized, and more than twice as likely to die from COVID–19; Whereas a national strategy to collect demographic data on COVID–19 vaccines that include race and ethnicity must be established, implemented, and monitored given that race and ethnicity are known for just over half of the people who have received at least one dose of the vaccine; Whereas significant data gaps related to COVID–19 in Asian-American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, and American Indian and Alaska Native communities continue to exist, inhibiting the ability to tailor targeted health interventions, resources, and outreach to these communities; Whereas about 6 out of 10 Black and Hispanic adults say they do not have enough information about where to re- ceive a COVID–19 vaccine, compared to about half of VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:08 Apr 22, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR341.IH HR341 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 3 •HRES 341 IH White adults, which further undermines vaccination ef- forts and increases the vulnerability of Black and His- panic communities; Whereas about half of farmworkers indicated they were un- sure of getting vaccinated when a vaccine became avail- able to them due to fear of side effects, mistrust of gov- ernment, cost, and fear that the vaccine could start a COVID–19 infection; Whereas communities of color tend to have fewer pharmacies per capita, putting them at a disadvantage in COVID– 19 vaccination efforts; Whereas preexisting conditions like diabetes, heart and lung disease, and hypertension put communities of color at higher risk of COVID–19 complications, especially His- panics who have the highest uninsured rate of any demo- graphic group; Whereas 30 State health departments do not report COVID– 19 cases for Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders and 34 State health departments do not report COVID–19 deaths for Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders de- spite the significant disparities this population continues to face; Whereas immigrant communities are largely Hispanic and Asian populations, with approximately one-third of both Asians and Hispanics being limited-English proficient, which has often impeded access to life-saving care and in- formation throughout the pandemic; Whereas the public charge rule has caused fear and confusion for immigrant communities discouraging them from using critical health and social benefit programs; VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:08 Apr 22, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR341.IH HR341 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 4 •HRES 341 IH Whereas the United States has a longstanding history of rac- ism, mistreatment, and discrimination against Black, Hispanic, Asian-American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, Native American, and other communities of color; and Whereas the right to health care is among the internationally agreed-upon human rights: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 1 (1) urges State, local, Tribal, and territorial 2 governments, Federal agencies, community organiza- 3 tions, health care entities, private sector partners, 4 and others to— 5 (A) implement and monitor plans for an 6 equitable distribution and allocation of COVID– 7 19 vaccines; 8 (B) implement outreach strategies toward 9 communities of color that are culturally and lin- 10 guistically appropriate as well as technologically 11 accessible, including working with trusted com- 12 munity partners; 13 (C) ensure that the COVID–19 vaccine 14 cannot be denied to individuals based on immi- 15 gration status; and 16 (D) implement worksite vaccination clinics 17 targeting the hardest hit industries in hot spot 18 locations; 19 VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:08 Apr 22, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HR341.IH HR341 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 5 •HRES 341 IH (2) encourages retail pharmacies administering 1 COVID–19 vaccines to target ZIP Codes with a dis- 2 proportionate rate of infections, hospitalizations, and 3 deaths which are located in medically underserved 4 areas or areas with a high Social Vulnerability 5 Index, including by using mobile testing units in 6 rural areas and underserved communities; and 7 (3) recognizes the need for further investment 8 in efforts to implement longstanding strategies to 9 eliminate health, economic, and social inequities. 10 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:08 Apr 22, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\HR341.IH HR341 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS