Hispanic Caucus Convenes Health Care Roundtable

Hispanic Caucus Convenes Health Care Roundtable

(Washington DC) - The Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) today hosted a roundtable discussion with leading health care organizations that focus on the needs of the Latino community. The Chairwoman of the CHC, Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez, and the Chair of CHC's Health and the Environment Task Force, Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard, convened the meeting to ensure that the broad spectrum of issues specific to the Latino community are included in the upcoming Health Care debate.

"As Congress gears up for a health care debate, the CHC will be working to ensure that any reform legislation sent to the President addresses the needs of Latinos across the country," said Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez. "With over 32% of Latinos in the United States lacking health insurance, and preventable illnesses like diabetes and liver disease hitting our community harder then others, it will take a broad effort to improve the health of our community as a whole. Today's discussion was the first of many as we seek to address and close the disparities in our health care system."

Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard, who is also a senior member of the House Appropriations Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Subcommittee, said: "As Congress moves forward with comprehensive health reform, it is imperative that we take a proactive approach to the specific and distinct health care needs of our growing Hispanic population. The Congressional Hispanic Caucus looks forward to working with the Hispanic health advocacy community to help create a consensus approach to addressing those disparities and concerns that are unique to our Hispanic communities."

** Photos available at - http://bit.ly/ssIPV **

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