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Press Release

LULAC Praises the Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2007.

New Legislation Will Improve Healthcare for All Latinos.

July 5, 2007

Contact:
Javier Dominguez, 202-833-6130 ext 14
 

The League of United Latin American Citizens, our nation’s oldest and largest Hispanic civil rights organization, strongly endorses the Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2007. This comprehensive legislation underscores the major problems concerning the current national health disparities crises and lack of healthcare services in under-served communities.

“The lack of health access for Latinos, African-Americans, and other minority communities needs to be addressed by our politicians,” said LULAC Health Commissioner Co-Chair, Jaime Martinez. “Although Latinos make up 13 % of the population, 43 million people, including children-are uninsured. We must concentrate our efforts towards addressing this critical issue in our community. This bill is a great first step.”

Developed by the Health Chairs of the House Tri-Caucus, the bill seeks to eliminate the persistent health disparities that exist in minority communities. Specifically, the legislation will establish community-centric programs that will coordinate new grants to launch cancer prevention projects, address health disparities and border health issues, address the shortage of under-represented minority healthcare providers across various medical specializations, strengthen the capacity of minority-led education institutions, promote positive health behaviors among women, as well as guarantee that low-income legal immigrant children receive access to appropriate healthcare.

“We applaud Congresswoman Hilda Solis for introducing the Health Equity and Accountability Act,” said LULAC National President Rosa Rosales. “This legislation will spearhead health care reform to reduce health disparities and more importantly, achieve health equity for all impoverished communities.”

The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the oldest and largest Hispanic civil rights organization in the United States. LULAC advances the economic condition, educational attainment, political influence, health and civil rights of Hispanic Americans through community-based programs operating at more than 700 LULAC councils nationwide.

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