Should Congress establish a National Center on Antiracism and Health and a law enforcement violation prevention program?

Awaiting Vote
Bill Summary

This bill establishes within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) a National Center on Antiracism and Health and a law enforcement violation prevention program. Among other activities, the new center must declare racism a public health crisis, collect and analyze data, and administer research grant programs to address racism and its impact on health and well-being. Additionally, the bill specifically directs the CDC’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, in coordination with the Department of Justice and other relevant stakeholders, to carry out the law enforcement violation prevention program by conducting research and supporting other activities pertaining to law enforcement violence and public health. Sponsor: Rep. Ayanna Pressley (Democrat, Massachusetts, District 7)
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Opponents say

 "All of this is likely unconstitutional, violating the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause, as well Titles VI and VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. The courts have already stated, for example, that it is unconstitutional to encourage racial quotas, which would put the Justice in Policing Act in jeopardy." Source: Mike Gonzalez, Angeles T. Arredondo E Pluribus Unum Senior Fellow at The Heritage Foundation


Proponents say

  "Structural racism is a public health crisis that continues to ravage Black, Brown, and indigenous communities, deny us access to quality health care, and exacerbate the longstanding racial disparities in health outcomes. To confront and dismantle the racist systems and practices that create these inequities, we need robust, comprehensive research on the public health impacts of structural racism and policy solutions to bring an end to these disparities once and for all. Congress must pass our bill, which is exactly the type of bold, responsible legislation we have to mandate to deliver. Our communities deserve nothing less."

Source: 

Rep. Ayanna Pressley (Democrat, Massachusetts, District 7


  "It’s clear that COVID-19 has exacerbated decades of disparities in health outcomes for Black and Brown people.  My bill with Congresswoman Lee to create anti-racist federal health policy that studies and addresses these deep disparities in health outcomes at their roots is how we start treating health disparities like the public health crises they are." Source: Sen. Elizabeth Warren (Democrat, Massachusetts


  "The COVID-19 public health and economic crisis has illustrated the painful legacy of systemic racism in our country.  Black, Brown, and other communities of color are dying at disproportionate rates from this pandemic.  We have a moral responsibility to not only confront, but dismantle and denounce centuries of racism in our public health system.  We must give this issue the urgency it deserves and declare racism a national public health crisis.  Rep. Pressley, Senator Warren, and I remain committed to implementing comprehensive legislation that reserves course and delivers justice for our communities." Source: Rep. Barbara Lee (Democrat, California, District 13