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HomeNewsArchivesFYI: Sen. Hill to Bring Healthcare Reform Act Before the 28th Legislature

FYI: Sen. Hill to Bring Healthcare Reform Act Before the 28th Legislature

Dec. 7, 2008 – Senator Louis Patrick Hill commended the Health Disparity ICONS attending the 3-day National Conference on Health Disparities on St. Croix for participating in a significant step calculated to provide a system of health care designed specifically for Virgin Islanders.
“This conference,” said Senator Hill, “highlights how unbalanced health care based on race, discrimination, stereotyping, inequalities in education and income, is the primary cause of disease in minorities.”
Hill continued, “Pioneers in the field of minority health, such as the Majority Whip Congressman James Clyburn, Asst. U.S. Secretary of Health, Dr. Garth Graham, Congressman John Lewis, and our own Delegate Dr. Donna Christensen, have made it their priority to expose how unequal access to employment and housing opportunities, severely and disproportionately impacts upon the health of minority people.” In quoting Congressman Clyburn, Hill said, “Political decisions of the past, such as disallowing infrastructure development in areas heavily populated by minorities, or limiting access to healthcare for blacks, Hispanics, women or rural communities, is the reason why minority people suffer from poor health today. We are now here to fix that, relying on health professionals to help us form those policies.”
Hill went on to say Virgin Islanders will directly benefit from the work of these stalwarts when he brings the Healthcare Reform Act before the upcoming 28th Legislature. “Our efforts,” Hill explained, “in collaboration with Governor deJongh’s Healthcare Task Force, will serve as the catalyst to leveling the playing field of disproportionate health care for Virgin Islanders.”
He concluded by commending Delegate Donna Christensen and her congressional colleagues for their vision in bringing to the territory a National Conference which explores the complex issue of health disparities and how these affect minorities.

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