U.S. Senator George Helmy (D-New Jersey) is co-sponsoring the Health Equity Innovation Act of 2024 — a bill that would establish a grant program that would provide federal funding to faith- and community-based organizations with proven track records of addressing health inequities to serve communities with a lack of health care services.
The grants would help cover the cost of providing preventative care – including free or low-cost health screenings, vaccinations, family planning services, and mental health services – hiring community health workers, and expanding capacity.
“The stark contrasts in health outcomes between the Black population and their white counterparts is startling,” Helmy said. “As one of the premier nations in the world, the racial health disparities in our country are unacceptable.
“The Health Equity Innovation Act of 2024 will ensure underserved communities across our country receive access to preventative health care services. I am honored to join Sens. Gillibrand, Butler, and Booker in the fight to protect marginalized communities across the nation who seek basic necessities to lead a safe and healthy life.”
Historically, Black Americans have had a lack of access to quality and affordable health care. The Black population suffers disproportionately from a variety of health conditions, including asthma, high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease and Alzheimer’s disease.
In New Jersey, Black women are almost seven times more likely than a white mother to die from maternity-related complications, and a Black baby is over three times more likely than a white baby to die before his or her first birthday. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Black population in the state, along with the Hispanic population, consistently ranked in the top percentile of hospitalizations and fatalities at each stage of the crisis.
