The publication is reproduced in full below:
CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH
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HON. FRANK J. MRVAN
of indiana
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, February 9, 2022
Mr. MRVAN. Madam Speaker, it is with great respect and sincere admiration that I rise today to celebrate Black History Month and its 2022 theme--Black Health and Wellness.
This year's theme recognizes the achievements and initiatives of African Americans in healthcare while simultaneously highlighting the disparities that still exist in our country. As we reflect on the past, we must examine how race and racism have created additional barriers for African American health outcomes.
Specific to Northwest Indiana, I would like to take a moment to recognize and commemorate the notable achievements of Dr. Clarence Boone, a well-known obstetrician-gynecologist and leader in our region's medical community.
Dr. Boone was born and raised in Gary, Indiana. He graduated from Froebel High School in Gary in 1949 and went on to attend Indiana University--where he earned a degree in anatomy and physiology. He then made history as one of five Black students enrolled at the Indiana University School of Medicine in 1952.
After medical school, Dr. Boone returned to his hometown in Gary and spent his career advocating for African Americans and women in the medical field. He served as President of the Medical Staff of Methodist Hospital and as Medical Director for Planned Parenthood of Northwest Indiana. Dr. Boone is remembered as a community mentor who was committed to providing medical service to individuals who would not otherwise have access to it.
While we have made progress to improve access to affordable health care options, there still is a long way to go. Generations of strict geographical segregation have left many hospitals and medical care centers that continue to serve African American communities under-
resourced and under-staffed.
Evident prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, and certainly emphasized by it, these shortages have resulted in African Americans being more susceptible to illness, less likely to receive adequate treatment, and placed further at-risk for complications.
While I appreciate the milestones reached through the passage of the Affordable Care Act, more must be done to improve access to affordable health care and decrease the gap in health-related outcomes for African Americans.
With this year's celebration of Black History Month, let us honor Dr. Boone from Gary and all African American scholars and medical professionals who have played such a monumental role with their contributions to health care in the state of Indiana and throughout our country, and let us recommit to ending health disparities for African Americans that still exist today.
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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 168, No. 26
The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
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