 |
 |
|
 |
||
Print 
Download Reader 
|
|
|
|
||
Print Download Reader
 |
||||||
"On Receiving the Booker T. Washington Award"SECRETARY THOMPSON: Thank you, Tamara Smith, for that kind introduction. I'm happy to be here with all of you tonight as we observe National Minority Health Month. I'm especially happy to see our Majority Leader, Bill Frist, in attendance. He is a wonderful man, and a tireless worker for the cause of health in America. Thank you for all you do, Bill, to make sure all Americans are as healthy as they can be. I am honored to accept the Booker T. Washington award tonight. Born on a small farm in the Virginia backcountry, Booker rose up from slavery and illiteracy to become a prominent leader, a dedicated patriot, and the greatest black American educator at the turn of the century. He was a man who went from the slave shed, to the professor's seat, to the White House, as an advisor to two Presidents - both Republicans, I'm happy to say. Booker T. Washington remains one of the wisest Americans who has ever lived. He was an excellent teacher, who knew how to engage his students' passion. He once wrote: "Few things help an individual more than to place responsibility upon him, and to let him know that you trust him." I am proud to accept this award - not just on my behalf, but also on behalf of the hard-working team at HHS, and on behalf of the President we serve. I grew up in a small town called Elroy, Wisconsin, population 1,500. When you come from a place like Elroy, you gain a perspective on life you never lose. People aren't statistics or numbers on a page; they're real Americans with real problems. When someone gets a disease it affects the whole community, because you know that person as a neighbor and a friend. As Governor of Wisconsin and now as Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), I have always carried that understanding with me. Public policies affect real people, not lines in a numerical table. That's why I believe the health problems that plague minority communities must be faced. Racial and ethnic minorities are disproportionately affected by many chronic diseases compared to non-minorities. For example, 17 million Americans have Type 2 diabetes - about one out of every twenty people. But one out of every ten adult Hispanics has diabetes. Two-thirds of black and Mexican women are clinically overweight. And American Indian children have obesity rates more than twice as high as the rest of the population. Untreated diseases also contribute to a higher mortality rates among minorities. Because diabetes goes untreated or undetected in many minority communities, it frequently leads to chronic kidney disease, requiring dialysis to sustain life. When I was elected Governor of Wisconsin, I worked closely with the legislature to develop a new approach to solving problems like these. We found that many low-income minorities lacked access to affordable health care. Our solution was BadgerCare, a program that provides health care for low-income working families who make too much money to qualify for Medicaid, but can't afford insurance on their own. Over 77,000 people were enrolled in this program by the end of 2000. We also developed programs in Wisconsin that have become national models - Wisconsin Works, or W-2, FamilyCare, and our Pathways to Independence Program. In our first two years at the Department of Health and Human Services, we have made tremendous progress in our efforts to improve the health, safety, and well-being of the American people by bringing the lessons of Wisconsin to Washington. We continue to make extraordinary progress in providing health care to minorities and low-income Americans. Through waiver and state plan amendments granted to states, we have expanded access to health coverage for more than 2.2 million people, and have expanded the range of benefits offered to 6.7 million other Americans. Another way we make quality health care more accessible to the poor and underserved is through our community health centers. As neighborhood-based clinics where people can come to see a doctor or other health professional, regardless of their income, health centers play a critical role by providing a safety net for all patients. I'm proud to say that President Bush's budget shows our dedication to improving the care minorities receive through community health centers, with $1.5 billion in funding - a $114 million increase - to help create 170 new or expanded health center sites and allow over 800 health care providers to practice in underserved and inner city areas. And by expanding the child tax credit, this budget will also dramatically improve health care access for minority families and children. Finally, we at HHS understand the importance of increasing awareness through health education. That's why, as part of our "Closing the Health Gap" initiative, we recently partnered with ABC Radio's Tom Joyner to sponsor "Take A Loved One To the Doctor Day," encouraging African-Americans to visit a health professional and get a check up. We must continue to engage minority health issues through faith-based and community groups, building awareness of the problems we face, and giving at-risk minorities the information and freedom they need to make the right choices about their health. You and I must work in minority communities, encouraging people to get exercise, eat right, and stop smoking, to help prevent disease in their own lives. Booker T. Washington once wrote: "I have learned that success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed." We have some great obstacles to overcome as we seek to improve health in minority communities. But I am encouraged by the fact that we live in the greatest nation on earth, a land of innovation and enterprise. I truly believe if we work together, we can achieve real, lasting change for the common good. Thank you, and may God bless America. Last Revised: April 16, 2003 |
|
