House OKs Cassidy’s bipartisan bill to improve research into minority health disparities

The U.S. House of Representatives on April 14 approved the bipartisan John Lewis National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) Research Endowment Revitalization Act of 2021, which U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) sponsored in his chamber.

“Passing this bill increases investment in schools conducting critical research into health disparities among minorities,” Sen. Cassidy said. “In Louisiana, universities like Xavier are doing great research and this legislation supports their efforts to improve health outcomes in underserved communities.”

The House gave voice vote approval to H.R. 189, which U.S. Reps. Buddy Carter (R-GA) and Nanette Diaz Barragan (D-CA) introduced on Jan. 5 to expand eligibility for research endowments available through the NIMHD to include former centers of excellence at health professional schools and biomedical and behavioral research institutions that meet criteria related to the inclusion of underrepresented minority individuals in programs and activities.

Sen. Cassidy and U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI) on Feb. 12 introduced the identical bill, S. 320, which received U.S. Senate approval on March 10 and then was sent to the House where the bill now has been reconciled and returned to the Senate for final action. It is expected to soon head to the president’s desk to be signed into law.

The bill is named for the late-Rep. John Lewis (D-GA), who originally introduced it during the 116th Congress.

The goals of NIMHD’s Research Endowment Program include promoting minority health and health disparities research capacity and infrastructure; increasing the diversity and strength of the scientific workforce; and bolstering the recruitment and retention of individuals from health disparity populations who are underrepresented in the scientific workforce, according to Sen. Cassidy’s office.