Young introduces bipartisan legislation aiming to eliminate health disparities among women, minorities

Bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Rep. David Young (R-IA) on Thursday would make minority populations and women more widely represented in medical research to reduce racial and gender health disparities.

The Enhancing Minority and Women Representation in NIH Medical Research Act, H.R. 6224, introduced by Young and U.S. Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-OH), would take steps to improve the diversity of clinical research.

The bill would require the collection of additional data to help evaluate progress in reducing health disparities, encourage more coordination, and ensure that basic research projects reflect biological differences between men and women.

“Accurate clinical research is integral when developing treatments to address some of the most devastating diseases and medical conditions folks across the country face,” Young said. “This bipartisan legislation ensures clinical trials are representative of how different medical issues affect our diverse nation, and it is a necessary step to ensure our researchers at NIH have data inclusive of all Americans. I’m glad to join my colleague Congresswoman Beatty in working to move this important legislation forward.”

Young, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, supported legislation that appropriated $33.3 billion in funding to the NIH, including $286 million for minority health and health disparities research, in fiscal year 2017.

“Clinical trials offer hope to millions living with chronic disease, illness and disability,” Beatty said. “It is imperative that clinical trials — which have the potential to lead to the development of lifesaving treatments — better reflect our diverse nation. We must do everything in our power to better understand and reduce the health disparities that exist for African-Americans and women.”

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