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[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6767 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 6767
To amend the Public Health Service Act to include Middle Eastern and
North African (MENA) individuals in the statutory definition of a
``racial and ethnic minority group'', to direct the Secretary of Health
and Human Services to conduct a comprehensive study of MENA population
health, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
December 16, 2025
Ms. Tlaib (for herself, Mrs. Dingell, Ms. Kelly of Illinois, Ms.
Stansbury, Ms. Barragan, Mr. Carson, Ms. Clarke of New York, Mr.
Correa, Mr. Garcia of Illinois, Mr. Goldman of New York, Ms. Norton,
Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Ms. Lee of Pennsylvania, Ms. McCollum, Ms.
Ocasio-Cortez, Ms. Pou, Ms. Schakowsky, and Ms. Simon) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and
Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Public Health Service Act to include Middle Eastern and
North African (MENA) individuals in the statutory definition of a
``racial and ethnic minority group'', to direct the Secretary of Health
and Human Services to conduct a comprehensive study of MENA population
health, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Health Equity and Middle Eastern and
North African Community Inclusion Act of 2025'' or the ``Health Equity
and MENA Community Inclusion Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITION.
In this Act, the terms ``Middle Eastern and North African'' or
``MENA'', with respect to individuals or populations, includes
individuals or populations who identify with or belong to one or more
nationalities or ethnic groups originating in a country (or portion
thereof) in the Middle Eastern and North African region (such as
Lebanese, Iranians, Egyptians, Moroccans, Yemenis, Chaldeans,
Imazighen, Kurds, Palestinians, and Yazidis).
SEC. 3. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) On March 28, 2024, the Office of Management and Budget
formally recognized Middle Eastern and North African
populations in Statistical Policy Directive Number 15 (in this
section referred to as ``SPD 15''), which established, since
its issuance in 1977, the minimum standards for the collection,
management, and presentation of data on race and ethnicity.
(2) In 1985, the Secretary of Health and Human Services
produced a ``Report on Black and Minority Health'', which
analyzed persistent health differences between the general
population and the non-White populations recognized in SPD 15
and served as the basis for the foundation of the Office of
Minority Health (in this section referred to as the ``OMH'').
(3) Through the establishment of the OMH in 1986, the
Secretary of Health and Human Services has developed health
policies and programs that eliminate health disparities and
improve the health of racial and ethnic minority populations.
(4) Congress has funded the OMH to ensure improved health
status of racial and ethnic minorities, and to develop measures
to evaluate the effectiveness of activities aimed at reducing
health disparities and supporting the local community. The
activities of the OMH have addressed health disparities,
including with respect to physical activity and nutrition,
clinical conditions, individual social needs, and the social
determinants of health for ``racial and ethnic minority
groups''.
(5) Before the amendments made by this Act, section
1707(g)(1) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300u-
6(g)(1)) defined the term ``racial and ethnic minority group''
(for whom the OMH works to improve health outcomes and
eliminate health disparities) to exclude Middle Easterners and
North Africans, and thereby prevented MENA populations from
accessing critical resources intended to assist historically
marginalized communities.
(6) Independent researchers and private sector research
initiatives have found significant health disparities between
MENA individuals and the non-Hispanic White population, as well
as significant overlap between the health outcomes and health
conditions of MENA individuals and those of other racial and
ethnic minority groups.
(7) Poor health outcomes are often connected to
impoverishment in other aspects of life and are exacerbated by
additional barriers to access high-quality health coverage,
whether in terms of language, eligibility, health literacy, or
discrimination at the point-of-service.
(8) A recent study published in the journal, Proceedings of
the National Academy of Sciences, suggested that MENA
individuals are not perceived as White and do not perceive
themselves as White.
(9) Research on the health outcomes and health conditions
of MENA individuals is troubling and suggests that efforts must
be made on the Federal level to disaggregate the demographic
data of MENA individuals from the demographic data of
individuals in the non-Hispanic White category and fully
understand the social determinants of health for health
disparities and outcomes experienced by MENA individuals.
(10) MENA individuals are not included among the groups for
whom the OMH works to improve health outcomes and eliminate
health disparities, which further limits the opportunity of
MENA individuals to access programs designed to address their
experiences and health conditions.
(11) The OMH could better assess and eliminate health
disparities by conducting a comprehensive study of the health
of MENA individuals and recognizing MENA individuals as a
racial and ethnic minority group.
SEC. 4. INCLUSION OF MIDDLE EASTERNERS AND NORTH AFRICANS IN DEFINITION
OF RACIAL AND ETHNIC MINORITY GROUPS.
(a) In General.--Section 1707(g)(1) of the Public Health Service
Act (42 U.S.C. 300u-6(g)(1)) is amended by striking ``Blacks; and
Hispanics'' and inserting ``Blacks or African Americans; Hispanics; and
Middle Easterners and North Africans''.
(b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that subsection
(a) should be implemented so as to ensure that--
(1) the definition of a ``racial and ethnic minority
group'' in section 1707(g)(1) of the Public Health Service Act
(42 U.S.C. 300u-6(g)(1)), as amended by subsection (a), is
applied in the implementation and execution of Federal programs
and activities that reference such definition; and
(2) no racial or ethnic minority group served by such
programs and activities is negatively impacted by the amendment
made by subsection (a).
(c) Undefined References.--Not later than 2 years after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services
shall--
(1) identify all regulations, guidance, orders, and
documents of the Department of Health and Human Services for
establishment or implementation of a health care or public
health program, activity, or survey that--
(A) use the term ``racial and ethnic minority
group'' or similar terminology; and
(B) do not define such term or terminology; and
(2) take such actions as may be necessary to clarify
whether the definition of ``racial and ethnic minority group''
in section 1707(g)(1) of the Public Health Service Act (42
U.S.C. 300u-6(g)(1)), as amended by subsection (a), applies to
such term or terminology.
(d) Report to Congress.--Not later than 2 years after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall
submit to Congress a report on the implementation of this section.
SEC. 5. REPORT ON HEALTH OF MIDDLE EASTERN AND NORTH AFRICAN
POPULATION.
(a) Study Required.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services
(referred to in this section as the ``Secretary'') shall conduct or
support a comprehensive study regarding the unique health patterns and
outcomes of MENA populations.
(b) Requirements for Study.--The comprehensive study under
subsection (a) shall include an enumeration of MENA populations across
the United States, disaggregated by subpopulation, and with respect to
each such population and subpopulation--
(1) the rates of--
(A) health risk factors, including--
(i) behaviors, such as tobacco use,
excessive alcohol consumption, physical
inactivity, and unhealthy diet;
(ii) physiological factors, such as
obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, high
blood sugar, and high cholesterol;
(iii) environmental factors, such as
exposure to toxic chemicals, air and water
pollution, and unsafe working conditions,
including prevalence of work-related injuries;
(iv) genetic factors, such as family
history of chronic diseases, presence of
specific gene mutations, and racial and ethnic
predisposition to certain conditions;
(v) demographic characteristics, such as
age, geographic location, and English language
proficiency; and
(vi) social determinants of health, such as
household income, health insurance coverage,
socioeconomic status, education level, housing
instability, educational and employment
opportunities, and access to culturally and
linguistically appropriate service providers;
(B) prevalence of chronic disease or illness,
including--
(i) cancers, such as breast, lung,
cervical, prostate, colorectal, liver, stomach,
and oral cancer;
(ii) cardiovascular conditions, such as
heart disease, atrial fibrillation, and stroke;
(iii) respiratory conditions, such as
asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,
and lung disease;
(iv) musculoskeletal conditions, such as
osteoporosis and carpal tunnel syndrome;
(v) neurological conditions, such as
Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's and other
related dementias, epilepsy, and cerebral
palsy;
(vi) infectious diseases, such as HIV/AIDS,
hepatitis B and C, and tuberculosis; and
(vii) autoimmune diseases, such as lupus,
multiple sclerosis, ulcerative colitis, and
rheumatoid arthritis;
(C) prevalence of disability and disorder,
including--
(i) vision impairments, such as blindness
and low vision;
(ii) hearing conditions, such as deafness
and varying degrees of hearing loss;
(iii) physical impairments, such as
musculoskeletal conditions, amputation,
paralysis, repetitive strain injuries, and
other conditions that affect movement or
require assistive devices;
(iv) intellectual or developmental
conditions, such as Down syndrome, Prater-Willi
syndrome, Angelman syndrome, autism, and
attention-deficit/hyperactive disorder (ADHD),
as well as other conditions that affect
cognitive abilities, learning, and adaptive
behaviors;
(v) mental or behavioral conditions, such
as depression, anxiety, insomnia, sleep apnea,
bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and traumatic
brain injury;
(vi) substance use disorders, such as
disorders in use of alcohol, opioids,
stimulants, and cannabis, and risk factors
stemming from such disorders, such as liver
damage and gastrointestinal issues;
(vii) genetic or blood disorders, such as
sickle cell anemia, G6PD deficiency,
hypertension, and thalassemia; and
(viii) endocrine disorders, such as
diabetes, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and
hypothyroidism;
(D) maternal and reproductive health outcomes,
including maternal morbidity and mortality,
infertility, and postpartum depression;
(E) nutritional health outcomes, including
malnutrition, vitamin D and iron deficiencies, among
other vitamin deficiencies;
(F) child and adolescent health outcomes, such as
pediatric developmental delays, childhood obesity, and
early-onset chronic conditions;
(G) dental and oral health outcomes, including
tooth loss, gum disease, and tooth decay;
(H) domestic violence, dating violence, sexual
assault, sexual harassment, and stalking; and
(I) morbidity and mortality, including the rates of
morbidity and mortality associated with the rates
referenced in subparagraphs (A) through (H);
(2) analysis of--
(A) the factors and conditions that contribute most
to--
(i) the rates described in paragraph (1);
and
(ii) the rates by which MENA subpopulations
reported the outcomes referenced in
subparagraphs (B) and (C) as a disease,
illness, disorder, or disability;
(B) the leading causes of morbidity and mortality
and pregnancy-associated morbidity and mortality;
(C) the extent to which access to health care
facilities contributes to the associated outcomes of
care, including the rates described in paragraph (1);
and
(D) the disparities between MENA subpopulations and
between the aggregate MENA population and other racial
and ethnic populations in the rates described in
paragraph (1);
(3) analysis, enumeration, or quantification of any other
health or health-related parameters the Secretary determines
necessary; and
(4) analysis of the extent to which any or all of the
design, implementation, and evaluation of Federal health
programs contribute to the health factors, outcomes, and
conditions described in paragraphs (1) through (3).
(c) Consultation.--The Secretary shall--
(1) carry out this section in consultation, as appropriate,
with the Director of the Census Bureau, the Director of the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Director of the
National Institutes of Health, the Assistant Secretary for
Mental Health and Substance Use, and other stakeholders
(including community-based organizations); and
(2) determine through such consultation the subpopulations
to be used for purposes of disaggregation of data pursuant to
subsection (b).
(d) Online Portal.--Upon conclusion of the comprehensive study
under this section, the Secretary shall establish a public online
portal to catalogue the results of the study, its underlying data, and
information in the report submitted pursuant to subsection (e)(2).
(e) Reporting.--
(1) Interim report.--Not later than 2 years after the date
of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to
Congress a report outlining the challenges associated with, and
progress toward implementing, health data collection for MENA
populations as a distinct category and the plan for completing
a comprehensive study regarding the unique health patterns and
outcomes of MENA populations.
(2) Final report.--Not later than 30 days after the
conclusion of the comprehensive study under this section, and
not later than 2 years after the date of submission of the
interim report under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall submit
to Congress a report describing--
(A) the results of the study conducted under this
section; and
(B) the rulemakings and other actions the agencies
described in subsection (c)(1) can undertake to more
equitably include MENA individuals in their programs,
including whether and to what extent additional
resources are needed to increase rates of response
among MENA populations to Federal health surveys.
(f) Privacy.--
(1) In general.--In carrying out the comprehensive study
under this section, the Secretary shall implement robust
privacy protections to safeguard the personal data of the
individuals involved.
(2) Minimum protections.--The privacy protections referred
to in paragraph (1) include the following:
(A) Personally identifiable information, such as
names or addresses, shall not be collected when
unnecessary for the purposes of the study.
(B) Any personally identifiable information that is
collected shall be securely destroyed upon completion
of the intended use of such information.
(C) All privacy protections and data handling
procedures shall be clearly communicated to any
individuals who may be subjects of the study, including
through informed consent if applicable.
(3) Prohibition on inclusion of pii in online portal or
reports.--The Secretary shall not include any personally
identifiable information on the online portal under subsection
(d) or in the reports under subsection (e).
(g) Violations.--Any person who, by virtue of an official position
or affiliation with the Secretary--
(1) has possession of, or access to, any record containing
individually identifiable information the disclosure of which
is prohibited by or under this section; and
(2) knowingly discloses such a record to any person or
agency not entitled to receive the record,
shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and fined not more than $25,000.
(h) Personally Identifiable Information Defined.--In this section,
the term ``personally identifiable information'' means individually
identifying information for or about an individual, including
information likely to disclose the location or specific identity of a
participating individual, regardless of whether the information is
encoded, encrypted, hashed, or otherwise protected, including--
(1) a first and last name;
(2) a home or other physical address;
(3) contact information (including a postal, email or
internet protocol address, or telephone or facsimile number);
(4) a social security number, driver license number,
passport number, or student identification number; and
(5) any other information, including date of birth, racial
or ethnic background, or religious affiliation, that would
serve to identify any individual.
(i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
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