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April 28, 2008

Honorable Frank Pallone, Jr., Chair
Subcommittee on Health
Committee on Energy and Commerce
U.S. House of Representatives

Honorable John D. Dingell, Chair
Committee on Energy and Commerce
U.S. House of Representatives

Dear Chairman Dingell and Subcommittee Chair Pallone:

We the undersigned local, state, and national organizations are writing to express our strong support of H.R. 3014, the Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2007. We also request that you take action to hold a hearing on this important legislation early in 2008. The provisions in H.R. 3014 are critical to reducing health disparities and restoring equity to healthcare coverage for individuals most in need of assistance, by improving access to health care and health care education for underrepresented minorities. H.R. 3014 would go a long way toward closing health care and quality gaps for communities of color as well as language minorities, gaps that have been well-documented for many years.

We are pleased with the provisions of this legislation that create alternative coverage opportunities for many low- and moderate-income immigrants and their families. Despite a robust presence in the workforce, many immigrants and their families are unable to connect with health coverage that bridges them with necessary health care services. H.R. 3014 takes a critical step to grant states the option to cover lawfully-residing immigrant children and pregnant women under the Medicaid and State Children s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP); these children are currently barred from coverage for five years after their arrival in the U.S. These health care restorations will help to ensure that needy children have a healthy start so that they can fully develop and grow. And we know that every dollar spent on prenatal care saves $4 or more in longer-term medical costs. This provision is a long-standing priority for addressing a core barrier to health care: the lack of health coverage.

H.R. 3014 also will improve the quality of health care for all communities of color by promoting culturally- and linguistically-appropriate services and care for individuals with language barriers. Successful health care delivery depends on the ability of both patient and provider to experience effective communication. The bill provides federal support for the provision of language services through Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP reimbursements for participating providers. The legislation also makes available critically-needed funds for development and implementation of language interpretation services, and supports training for health care providers using models of cultural competence that will benefit rural areas and Indian Country. The bill would enhance the health literacy of consumers and offer support to community health workers who promote costeffective prevention strategies.

The need for change in our health care system is rising to the top of the national agenda. We must make deliberate attempts to ensure that those who are most in need of quality health care services are included. We cannot continue to leave critical communities behind. H.R. 3014 addresses many of the most important causes of unequal access to health care and treatment. We urge you build upon your commitments and work together with us to pass the Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2007 as a critical part of making healthcare more accessible to everyone in our nation.

Sincerely,

NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
9to5, National Association of Working Women
ACORN
Afro-Americans C.A.R.E.
AIDS Action
Alzheimer's Association
American Arab Forum
American Association of Jews from the Former USSR
American Association of People with Disabilities
American Federation of Government Employees
American Friends Services Committee
American Heart Association/American Stroke Association
American Humane Association
American Lung Association
American Public Health Association
Americans for Democratic Action, Inc.
Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum
Asian American Justice Center
Asian Pacific American Legal Center
Asian Pacific Islander Caucus
Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations
Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs
Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs (AMCHP)
Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law
Break the Cycle
Campaign for America's Future
Catholic Health Association of the U.S.
Child Welfare League of America
Coalition on Human Needs
Community Action Partnership
COPE Health Solutions
Dads & Daughters
Easter Seals
Esperanza
Families USA
Farmworker Justice
First Focus
Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS)
Ingram & Company
Institute of Social Medicine & Community Health
Integrated Community Solutions, Inc.
Japanese American Citizens League
Jewish Council for Public Affairs
Jewish Labor Committee
LAC COURTE OREILLES Vocational Rehabilitation Program
Leadership Conference of Women Religious
League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC)
Legal Momentum on Immigrant Women Program
Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service
Mental Health America (formerly NMHA)
Mexican American Legal Defense & Educational Fund (MALDEF)
Migrant Legal Action Program
Moms Rising
National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd
National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors
National Alliance to End Homelessness
National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum
National Association For Continence (NAFC)
National Association of Community Health Centers
National Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems
National Association of Social Workers
National Center for Law and Economic Justice
National Council of Jewish Women
National Council of La Raza
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund
National Health Law Program (NHeLP)
National Hispanic Council on Aging
National Hispanic Medical Association
National Immigration Law Center
National Institute for Reproductive Health
National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC)
National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health
National Latino Children s Institute
National LULAC Health Commission
National Migrant and Seasonal Head Start Association
National Minority AIDS Education Training Center -(NMAETC)
National Organization for Women
National Partnership for Women and Families
National Priorities Project
National Puerto Rican Coalition, Inc.
National Women's Health Network
National Women's Law Center
NETWORK: A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby
Our Bodies, Ourselves
PALS for Health
PHI-Health Care for Health Care Workers Initiative
Physicians for Reproductive Choice and Health
Planned Parenthood Federation of America
Poverty & Race Research Action Council
Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism
RESULTS
Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law
Service Employees International Union (SEIU)
Sisters of Mercy of the Americas
SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Health Collective
Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC)
Standard Homeopathic Company and Hyland's, Inc.
Tahirh Justice Center
The AIDS Institute
The Sikh Coalition
Union for Reform Judaism
United Methodist Women
USAction
Voices for America's Children
Women of Reform Judaism

REGIONAL, STATE, AND LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS
9to5 Bay Area -- San Jose, CA
9to5 Colorado -- Denver, CO
Access Health Care Long Island Coalition -- Hempstead, NY
Acercamiento Hispano de Carolina del Sur -- Columbia, SC
ACLU of Southern California -- Los Angeles, CA
Action for Children North Carolina -- Raleigh, NC
African Services Committee -- New York, NY
AIDS Action Baltimore, Inc. -- Baltimore, MD
AIDS Project of Central Iowa -- Des Moines, IA
Alaska Hispanic Affairs Council of Alaska, Inc.-- Anchorage, AK
Alliance for Multicultural Community Services -- Houston, TX
Altamed Health Services Corporation, -- Los Angeles, CA
American Indian Healing Center -- Whittier, CA
Americans for Democratic Action, Hawaii Chapter -- Honolulu, HI
Arc of Onondaga -- Syracuse, NY
Arizona Advocacy Network -- Phoenix, AZ
Asian Health Services -- Oakland, CA
Asociación Puertorriqueños en Marcha, Inc. -- Philadelphia, PA
Association for Children's Mental Health -- Lansing, MI
Atlanta 9to5 -- Atlanta, GA
Bellevue/NYU Occupational & Environmental Medicine -- New York, NY
Bristol Bay Area Health Corporation -- Dillingham, AK
California League of United Latin American Citizens -- Antioch, CA
California Church IMPACT -- Sacramento, CA
California Immigrant Policy Center -- Oakland, CA
California Pan-Ethnic Health Network -- Oakland, CA
California Primary Care Association -- Sacramento, CA
Carolynn's Montessori for Toddlers --Petaluma, CA
Catholic Healthcare West --Pasadena, CA
Cedar River Clinics - Feminist Women's Health Center of WA State -- Seattle, WA
Center for Civil Justice -- Saginaw, MI
Center for Independence of the Disabled in New York -- New York, NY
Center for Independent Living of South Florida, Inc. -- Miami, FL
Center for People in Need -- Lincoln, NE
Central City Community Health Center -- Los Angeles, CA
Central Jersey Impeach Group and Mercer DFA -- Princeton, NJ
Chicano Federation of San Diego County -- San Diego, CA
Children s Alliance -- Seattle, WA
Chinatown Service Center -- Los Angeles, CA
Citizen Action of New York -- New York, NY
Citizen Action of Wisconsin -- State of WI
Citizen Action/Illinois -- State of IL
Claire Heureuse Community Center, Inc -- Brooklyn, NY
Clearinghouse on Women's Issues -- Washington, DC
Coalicion de Lideres Latinos -- Dalton, GA
Coalition for Asian American Children and Families (CACF) -- New York, NY
Coalition for Independent Living Options -- West Palm Beach, FL
Coalition for the Homeless of Nassau County -- Fernandina Beach, FL
Colorado NOW -- Denver, CO
Colorado Progressive Action -- Denver, CO
Colorado Progressive Coalition -- Denver, CO
Common Cause Oklahoma -- Norman, OK
Community Development Corp. Resource Consortium Inc. (CDCRC Inc) -- Dayton, OH
Community Health Councils -- Los Angeles, CA
Conexion Americas -- Nashville, TN
Congreso de Latinos Unidos, Inc. -- Philadelphia, PA
Connecticut Citizen Action Group -- Hartford, CT
Daughters of Mary and Joseph -- Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
Delaware Alliance for Health Care -- Newark, DE
Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) -- Las Vegas, NV
Detroit Medical Reserve Corps -- Detroit, MI
Dignity Housing -- Philadelphia, PA
Diocese of Jefferson City -- Jefferson City, MO
Disabled in Action of Greater Syracuse -- Syracuse, NY
District 1199C Training and Upgrading Fund -- Philadelphia, PA
Dominican Sisters of Houston -- Houston, TX
East Oakland Community Development Corporation -- Oakland, CA
Elim Transitional Housing, Inc. -- Minneapolis, MN
Epilepsy Foundation of Virginia -- Charlottesville, VA
Family Life Center, St. Mary's University -- San Antonio, TX
Family Planning Advocates of New York State -- Albany, NY
Farmworker Association of Florida -- Apopka, FL
Feminist Women's Health Center -- Atlanta, GA
First Mexican Baptist Church -- San Antonio, TX
Florida Consumer Action Network (FCAN) -- Tampa, FL
Friends Neighborhood Guild -- Philadelphia, PA
Gary Community School Corporation -Board of School Trustees -- Gary, IN
Georgia Rural Urban Summit -- Decatur, GA
Global Justice Ministry Metropolitan Community Churches -- Abilene, TX
Greater New York Labor-Religion Coalition -- New York, NY
Hands Across Cultures, Corp. -- Espanola, NM
Health Care for the Homeless Program at the Anchorage Neighborhood Health Center -- Anchorage, AK
Health Equity Associates, LLC -- Havre de Grace, MD & Pittsburgh, PA
Heartland Health Outreach -- Chicago, IL
Heartland Human Care Services -- Chicago, IL
HelpLine of Delaware and Morrow Counties, Inc. -- Delaware, OH
Hispanic Health Coalition of Georgia, Inc. (HHCGA) -- Atlanta, GA
Hispanic Ministry United Methodist Church -- Frederick, MD
HIV/AIDS Services for African Americans in Alaska -- Anchorage, AK
Hudson Center for Health Equity & Quality -- Tarrytown, NY
Hudson Health Plan -- Tarrytown, NY
Human Services Coalition of Oregon (HSCO) -- Portland, OR
Hunger Action Network of NYS -- Albany, NY
Idaho Community Action Network (ICAN) -- Boise, ID
IHM Justice, Peace and Sustainability Office -- Monroe, MI
Illinois Maternal and Child Health Coalition -- Chicago, IL
Immigrant Rights Network of Iowa -- Des Moines, IA
Indianapolis Jewish Community Relations Council -- Indianapolis, IN
Intercommunity Housing Association -- St. Louis, MO
Iowa Citizen Action Network (ICAN) -- Iowa City, IA
Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence -- Des Moines, IA
Justice & Witness Ministries, United Church of Christ -- Cleveland, OH
Kentucky Youth Advocates -- Jeffersontown, KY
Kids in Common - A Voice for Children -- San Jose, CA
L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center -- Los Angeles, CA
Long Island Health Access Monitoring Project -- Great Neck, NY
La Clínica de La Raza, Inc. -- Oakland, CA
La Fe Policy Research and Education Center -- San Antonio, TX
Land Stewardship Project -- White Bear Lake, MN
Latin American Research and Service Agency (LARASA) -- Denver, CO
Latino Family Services -- Detroit MI
Latino Health Steering Committee -- Montgomery County, MD
Latino Leadership, Inc. -- Orlando, FL
Latinos for Education & Justice, Inc. -- Fairmount, GA
Law Center for Families -- Oakland, CA
LawHelp.org/NY City Bar Justice Center -- New York, NY
Leadership Team, Sisters of Mercy Detroit -- Detroit, MI
Legal Assistance Resource Center of Connecticut -- Hartford, CT
Liberty Resources, Inc. -- Philadelphia, PA
Los Angeles 9to5 -- Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles Unified School District -- Los Angeles, CA
Madison-area Urban Ministry -- Madison, WI
Maine People's Alliance -- Portland, ME
Marin County Department of Health & Human Services -- San Rafael, CA
Mary T. Inc. -- Coon Rapids, MN
Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition -- Boston, MA
Massachusetts Law Reform Institute -- Boston, MA
Maternity Care Coalition -- Philadelphia, PA
Medicaid Matters! Maryland -- Baltimore, MD
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center -- New York, NY
Mental Health Association of Southeastern Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia, PA
Mexican American Opportunity Foundation -- Montebello, CA
MICAH (Metropolitan Interfaith Council on Affordable Housing) -- Minneapolis, MN
Michigan Citizen Action -- Kalamazoo, MI
Michigan Council on Crime and Delinquency -- Lansing, MI
Michigan Minority Health Coalition -- Lansing, MI
Milwaukee 9to5 -- Milwaukee, WI
The Minneapolis Urban League -- Minneapolis, MN
Minnesota Indian Women's Resource Center -- Minneapolis, MN
Minot Area Homeless Coalition, Inc. -- North Dakota
Missouri Immigrant & Refugee Advocates -- St. Louis, MO
Missouri Progressive Vote Coalition -- State of MO
Montana People's Action/Indian People's Action -- Missoula, MT
National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum - DC Chapter -- Washington, DC
National Asian Pacific American Women s Forum- Los Angeles Chapter -- Los Angeles, CA
National Association of Social Workers - MN Chapter -- St. Paul, MN
National Council of Jewish Women/Greater Detroit Section -- Southfield, MI
National Organization for Women, Detroit Chapter -- East Lansing, MI
National Organization for Women of NJ -- Trenton, NJ
National Organization for Women, North Dallas Chapter -- Plano, TX
NDPeople.org -- Bismarck, ND
Nebraska Appleseed Center for Law in the Public Interest -- Lincoln, NE
New Hampshire Citizens Alliance -- Concord, NH
New Jersey Citizen Action -- Newark, NJ
New Mexico PACE -- Albuquerque, NM
New Mexico Voices for Children -- Albuquerque, NM
New York State Coalition Against Domestic Violence -- Albany, NY
New York Immigration Coalition -- New York, NY
Newman Center, Catholic Community at University of California, San Diego -- San Diego, CA
Next Step -- Edison, NJ
NICOS Chinese Health Coalition -- San Francisco, CA
Northern Manhattan Perinatal Partnership, Inc. -- New York, NY
Northwest Federation of Community Organizations -- Seattle, WA
Northwest Health Law Advocates -- Seattle, WA
Northwest Women's Law Center -- Seattle, WA
Ocean State Action (Rhode Island) -- Cranston, RI
Operation Fuel, Inc. -- Bloomfield, CT
Orange County Asian and Pacific Islander Community Alliance (OCAPICA) -- Garden Grove, CA
Oregon Action -- Portland, OR
Ounce of Prevention Fund -- Chicago, IL
PathWaysPA -- Holmes, PA
Pax Christi Northeast Florida -- St. Augustine, FL
Pax Christi Northwest Minnesota -- Crookston, MN
Pennsylvania Council of Churches -- Harrisburg, PA
Planned Parenthood Advocacy Project Los Angeles County -- Los Angeles, CA
Primary Health Care, Inc. -- Urbandale, IA
Progressive Maryland -- Silver Spring, MD
Project IRENE -- Berwyn, IL
Protecting Arizona's Family Coalition (PAFCO) -- Phoenix, AZ
Public Justice Center -- Baltimore, MD
The Reproductive Rights Coalition of Monterey County -- Monterey, CA
RESULTS Boston -- Boston, MA
RESULTS - Columbus, Ohio
Riverside School of Health Careers -- Newport News, VA
Rockland Immigration Coalition -- New City, NY
Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse -- Syracuse, NY
S.T.R.I.D.E.S. -- Syracuse, NY
Salem/Keizer Coalition for Equality -- Salem, OR
San Ysidro Health Center -- San Diego, CA
Savannah Deanery / Catholic Diocese of Savannah -- Savannah, GA
Senior Services -- Seattle, WA
Services, Immigrant Rights, and Education Network (SIREN) -- San Jose, CA
Siete del Norte CDC -- Embudo, NM
Sisters of Charity of Nazareth Congregational Leadership -- Nazareth, KY
Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia -- Aston, PA
Sisters of St. Joseph NW PA -- Erie, PA
Sisters of St. Joseph of Concordia -- Concordia, KS
South Central Family Health Center -- Los Angeles, CA
Southwest Creations Collaborative -- Albuquerque, NM
St. Anne's Place -- Minneapolis, MN
Support Center for Disparities Elimination, Inc. -- Covington, TN
Tennessee Citizen Action -- Nashville, TN
Tennessee Health Care Campaign -- Nashville, TN
Town of Buckeye Social Services/Community Action Program -- Buckeye, AZ
United Vision for Idaho -- Boise, ID
United Way of Beaver County -- Monaca, PA
Universal Health Care Action Network of Ohio (UHCAN Ohio) -- State of OH
University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health -- Tucson, AZ
Virginia Poverty Law Center -- Richmond, VA
Washington Community Action Network -- Seattle, WA
West Virginia Citizen Action Group -- Charleston, WV
Westside Health Services -- Rochester, NY
Wisconsin Council on Children and Families -- Madison, WI
Women Helping Women Lanai -- Lanai City, HI
YWCA Aurora -- Aurora, IL
YWCA of Hanover -- Hanover, PA
YWCA of Schenectady -- Schenectady, NY
YWCA of York -- York, PA
YWCA Omaha -- Omaha, NE
YWCA Orange County -- New Windsor, NY

cc: Honorable Nancy Pelosi, Speaker
Honorable Steny Hoyer, Majority Leader
Honorable James Clyburn, Majority Whip
Honorable Rahm Emanuel, Democratic Caucus Chair
U.S. House of Representatives