Hope and Health Equity for Communities of Color

Floor Speech

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Mr. ESPAILLAT. Madam Speaker, nearly six months have passed since the novel corona virus 2019 (COVID-19) was declared a public health emergency in the United States. At this moment in time, we have seen over 192,000 deaths nationwide due to COVID-19, with a disproportionate share of those impacted being Black and African American and Hispanic and Latino Americans.

The disparity in the number of cases, hospitalizations, and deaths is stunning. The rate of COVID-19 cases in Black and African American or Hispanic and Latino Americans are 2.6 times and 2.8 times, respectively, greater than white Americans. Black and African American patients are dying at 2.4 times the rate of white Americans. Hispanic or Latino Americans are hospitalized at 4.6 times the rate of white Americans. We can quantify this disparity by the incidence and prevalence of this disease by race and ethnicity, but we have a responsibility to understand how these disparities are rooted and linked to social determinants of health already present in minority and underserved communities that compound the disproportionate impact of COVID-19.

In New York's 13th Congressional District, we have seen the disproportionate impact of this disease in all parts of our community from Harlem to Washington Heights to Inwood and into the Bronx. In our community we have dedicated health care providers--extraordinary professionals of all backgrounds, experience, and expertise--who have gone to extraordinary lengths to care for COVID-19 patients. Among these health care heroes are groups like SOMOS Community Care and the Visiting Nurse Service of New York who have demonstrated incredible agility in caring for their patients who are most vulnerable and in need.

They understand how patient care and interventions need can best be tailored to meet the challenge of COVID-19 or otherwise in the hospital, clinic, and home settings. This is a tremendous benefit for the patient and their family members, and I am grateful for the work they continue to provide especially in providing palliative and hospice care. These are fields of care that we may not often think about until the moment that we or a loved one need this care the most. But these are important tools that we must utilize in order to address social determinants of health as we move towards better outcomes and quality of life for patients.

In these past six months, we have learned a great deal about this COVID-19 disease and best practices to care for vulnerable populations in underserved communities. The Visiting Nurse Service of New York PROJECT HOPE Physicians and Health Leaders' Summit is a great opportunity to share what we have seen and learned through this pandemic and apply the best practices towards immediate and future health care planning and delivery. As this group of health care professionals convenes, I join in their Day of HOPE and Equity for Communities of Color in New York and reject the premise that one's zip code defines their life span and health.

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