HR-6637 : Still Just a Bill

Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2020

This bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and others to undertake efforts to reduce health disparities.

For example, the bill (1) requires more detailed reporting of demographic and health disparities data, (2) directs certain components of HHS to support health workforce diversity, and (3) increases access to culturally and linguistically appropriate health care.

The bill also modifies eligibility and other requirements for Medicare, Medicaid, private health insurance, and other programs to reduce health disparities among vulnerable populations. The bill includes specific provisions with respect to noncitizens; maternal, infant, and child health; mental and behavioral health; and specified conditions that disproportionately affect racial and ethnic minority groups, such as certain cancers, HIV/AIDs, kidney disease, and diabetes.

Additionally, the bill (1) revises health information technology programs to address health disparities; (2) establishes an Office of Health Disparities within HHS, as well as civil rights compliance offices within HHS agencies; and (3) supports health impact assessments and other efforts pertaining to environmental justice and social determinants of health.

The Government Accountability Office must report on health workforce diversity and other specified issues related to health care and health disparities.

Action Timeline

Action DateTypeTextSource
2020-07-09CommitteeReferred to the Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife.House committee actions
2020-07-09CommitteeReferred to the Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States.House committee actions
2020-06-01CommitteeReferred to the Subcommittee on Border Security, Facilitation, and Operations.House committee actions
2020-04-28IntroReferralReferred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, Oversight and Reform, Ways and Means, Education and Labor, the Judiciary, the Budget, Veterans' Affairs, Natural Resources, Armed Services, and Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.House floor actions
2020-04-28IntroReferralReferred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, Oversight and Reform, Ways and Means, Education and Labor, the Judiciary, the Budget, Veterans' Affairs, Natural Resources, Armed Services, and Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.House floor actions
2020-04-28IntroReferralReferred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, Oversight and Reform, Ways and Means, Education and Labor, the Judiciary, the Budget, Veterans' Affairs, Natural Resources, Armed Services, and Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.House floor actions
2020-04-28IntroReferralReferred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, Oversight and Reform, Ways and Means, Education and Labor, the Judiciary, the Budget, Veterans' Affairs, Natural Resources, Armed Services, and Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.House floor actions
2020-04-28IntroReferralReferred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, Oversight and Reform, Ways and Means, Education and Labor, the Judiciary, the Budget, Veterans' Affairs, Natural Resources, Armed Services, and Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.House floor actions
2020-04-28IntroReferralReferred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, Oversight and Reform, Ways and Means, Education and Labor, the Judiciary, the Budget, Veterans' Affairs, Natural Resources, Armed Services, and Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.House floor actions
2020-04-28IntroReferralReferred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, Oversight and Reform, Ways and Means, Education and Labor, the Judiciary, the Budget, Veterans' Affairs, Natural Resources, Armed Services, and Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.House floor actions
2020-04-28IntroReferralReferred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, Oversight and Reform, Ways and Means, Education and Labor, the Judiciary, the Budget, Veterans' Affairs, Natural Resources, Armed Services, and Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.House floor actions
2020-04-28IntroReferralReferred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, Oversight and Reform, Ways and Means, Education and Labor, the Judiciary, the Budget, Veterans' Affairs, Natural Resources, Armed Services, and Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.House floor actions
2020-04-28IntroReferralReferred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, Oversight and Reform, Ways and Means, Education and Labor, the Judiciary, the Budget, Veterans' Affairs, Natural Resources, Armed Services, and Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.House floor actions
2020-04-28IntroReferralReferred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, Oversight and Reform, Ways and Means, Education and Labor, the Judiciary, the Budget, Veterans' Affairs, Natural Resources, Armed Services, and Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.House floor actions
2020-04-28IntroReferralIntroduced in HouseLibrary of Congress

Sponsor :

Rep. Garcia, Jesus G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4]
See Cosponsors

Policy Area :

Health
See Subjects
  • Academic performance and assessments
  • Accounting and auditing
  • Administrative law and regulatory procedures
  • Advisory bodies
  • Alaska Natives and Hawaiians
  • Allied health services
  • American Samoa
  • Appropriations
  • Assault and harassment offenses
  • Birth defects
  • Blood and blood diseases
  • Border security and unlawful immigration
  • Budget deficits and national debt
  • Budget process
  • Cancer
  • Cardiovascular and respiratory health
  • Caribbean area
  • Census and government statistics
  • Child care and development
  • Child health
  • Community life and organization
  • Computers and information technology
  • Congressional oversight
  • Consumer affairs
  • Correctional facilities and imprisonment
  • Crime victims
  • Crimes against women
  • Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
  • Criminal justice information and records
  • Dental care
  • Department of Health and Human Services
  • Digestive and metabolic diseases
  • Disability and health-based discrimination
  • Disability and paralysis
  • Drug therapy
  • Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
  • Education of the disadvantaged
  • Education programs funding
  • Elementary and secondary education
  • Emergency medical services and trauma care
  • Employment and training programs
  • Environmental health
  • Environmental regulatory procedures
  • Executive agency funding and structure
  • Family planning and birth control
  • Family relationships
  • Firearms and explosives
  • Foreign aid and international relief
  • Foreign labor
  • Foreign language and bilingual programs
  • Government information and archives
  • Government studies and investigations
  • Guam
  • Gulf of Mexico
  • HIV/AIDS
  • Hawaii
  • Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
  • Health care costs and insurance
  • Health care coverage and access
  • Health care quality
  • Health facilities and institutions
  • Health information and medical records
  • Health personnel
  • Health programs administration and funding
  • Health promotion and preventive care
  • Health technology, devices, supplies
  • Hereditary and development disorders
  • Higher education
  • Hospital care
  • Immigrant health and welfare
  • Immigration status and procedures
  • Immunology and vaccination
  • Indian social and development programs
  • Infectious and parasitic diseases
  • Inflation and prices
  • Intergovernmental relations
  • Labor standards
  • Marshall Islands
  • Medicaid
  • Medical education
  • Medical ethics
  • Medical research
  • Medical tests and diagnostic methods
  • Medicare
  • Mental health
  • Micronesia
  • Minority education
  • Minority health
  • Musculoskeletal and skin diseases
  • Northern Mariana Islands
  • Oceania
  • Palau
  • Prescription drugs
  • Puerto Rico
  • Racial and ethnic relations
  • Radiation
  • Refugees, asylum, displaced persons
  • Research and development
  • Rural conditions and development
  • Sales and excise taxes
  • Sex and reproductive health
  • Sex offenses
  • Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination
  • Sexually transmitted diseases
  • State and local government operations
  • Student aid and college costs
  • Surgery and anesthesia
  • Teaching, teachers, curricula
  • U.S. territories and protectorates
  • Violent crime
  • Virgin Islands
  • Visas and passports
  • Women's health
  • Worker safety and health