SCR164 - Black Health Equity Advocacy Week.

Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 164 CHAPTER 79 Relative to Black Health Equity Advocacy Week. [ Filed with Secretary of State May 29, 2026. ] LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SCR 164, Weber Pierson. Black Health Equity Advocacy Week. This measure would recognize May 4, 2026, to May 8, 2026, inclusive, and every first full week of May thereafter, as Black Health Equity Advocacy Week and commend the California Black Health Network and other organizations throughout the state for their efforts to improve the health, well-being, and life expectancy of Black Californians. Digest Key Fiscal Committee: NO Bill Text WHEREAS, The life expectancy at birth for Black Californians is 76.2 years of age, 5 years shorter than the state average and the lowest life expectancy of all racial and ethnic groups; and WHEREAS, Black Californians experience the highest death rates from breast, cervical, colorectal, lung, and prostate cancer compared to all racial groups; and WHEREAS, Black birthing people in California were six times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white birthing people, 56.2 compared to 9.4 pregnancy-related deaths per 100,000, respectively; and WHEREAS, Black birthing people experience higher rates of prenatal depressive symptoms and disproportionately lower use of postpartum counseling treatments and services than their white counterparts; and WHEREAS, Black Californians have higher rates of serious psychological distress than white Californians, 5.4 percent compared to 2.9 percent; and WHEREAS, Nearly one-half of Black adults in June 2020 reported experiencing an economic challenge because of the COVID-19 pandemic, three times greater than white adults; and WHEREAS, According to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, health equity means everyone has a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible, which requires removing obstacles to health, such as poverty, discrimination, and their consequences, including powerlessness and lack of access to good jobs with fair pay, quality education and housing, safe environments, and health care; and WHEREAS, In an effort to bring awareness to the long-standing structural inequities that negatively impact the health and well-being of Black Californians, as well as to uplift existing efforts to address inequities and dismantle the environmental and systemic barriers that contribute to disproportionate health outcomes and achieve racial justice, social justice, and environmental justice, the California Black Health Network is recognizing May 4, 2026, to May 8, 2026, inclusive, and every first full week of May thereafter, as Black Health Equity Advocacy Week; and WHEREAS, Black Health Equity Advocacy Week will help bring communities, organizations, and individuals together to mobilize, strategize, and collaborate on ways to break down the structural barriers that currently exist in California while mapping out a framework to advance Black health equity in the Golden State; now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby recognizes May 4, 2026, to May 8, 2026, inclusive, and every first full week of May thereafter, as Black Health Equity Advocacy Week and commends the California Black Health Network and other organizations throughout the state for their efforts to improve the health, well-being, and life expectancy of Black Californians; and be it further Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.