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Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) led a resolution<\/a> along with Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Alex Padilla (D-CA), and Mazie Hirono (D-HI) declaring that racism is a \u201cpublic health crisis.\u201d<\/p>\n Bown\u2019s resolution, \u201cDeclaring racism a public health crisis,\u201d says that a \u201cpublic health crisis\u201d becomes an issue when it is \u201cunfairly distributed among different populations, disproportionately impacting health outcomes, access to health care, and life expectancy.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPublic health experts agree that significant racial inequities exist in the prevalence, severity, and mortality rates of various health conditions in the United States,\u201d it notes, explaining that life expectancies are \u201csignificantly lower\u201d that those of \u201cnon-Hispanic White people\u201d in the U.S.<\/p>\n The resolution goes on to claim, without citing support, that \u201cinequities in health outcomes are exacerbated for people of color who are LGBTQIA+.\u201d<\/p>\n In a press release for the resolution, Brown said<\/a>, \u201cThis resolution is an important step toward recognizing the racial disparities in healthcare that have existed for far too long, while also outlining concrete action we can take now to help reverse them. Your background or the color of your skin shouldn\u2019t determine whether you get quality, respectful care, or whether your air and water are clean, or whether there\u2019s a good hospital nearby. This declaration will help to lay the foundation for change, so that all Americans can live longer, healthier lives.\u201d<\/p>\n The release described that the resolution emphasizes \u201cdiscrimination within health care and the systemic barriers that people of color continue to face when seeking care.\u201d<\/p>\n Brown first introduced the resolution in 2020 and has reintroduced it annually.<\/p>\n