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Affordable
Care Act Extension of MLK’s Dream, HHS Secretary Says
WASHINGTON
(Jan.
18)
–
The
Obama
Administration’s
signature
legislation,
the
Affordable
Care
Act,
is an
extension
of the
Rev.
Martin
Luther
King’s
dream
to eliminate
economic,
social
and
health
disparities
for
African
Americans
and
the
rest
of the
nation,
the
nation’s
highest
ranking
health
official
said
Tuesday
at Howard
University. To see a video of Sebelius’ speech, click here
Health
and
Human
Services
Secretary
Kathleen
Sebelius,
who
leads
the
principal
agency
charged
with
keeping
Americans
healthy,
said
the
new
law
and
other
legislation
pushed
through
by President
Barack
Obama
has
particularly
helped
African
Americans,
who
rank
near
the
bottom
of nearly
every
health
care
indicator. |
“It’s
going
to be
easier
to get
health
insurance,”
Sebelius
said.
“It’s
going
to be
easier
for
people
to get
that
check
up.
We‘re
going
to be
able
to hold
insurance
companies
accountable,
and
that’s
going
to make
a big
difference
for
African
Americans.”
Sebelius
delivered
the
keynote
address
at the
School
of Divinity
Spring
Semester
Convocation
in the
Andrew
Rankin
Memorial
Chapel.
Her
speech
was
one
of the
highlights
of the
University’s
annual
weeklong
celebration
of King’s
legacy,
philosophy
and
teachings.
Tackling
health
care
disparities
are
just
as important
as knocking
down
the
walls
of discrimination
and
economic
barriers,
Sebelius
said.
“Health
disparities
carry
a big
cost
for
our
communities
and
our
nation,”
Sebelius
said.
“It’s
hard
to concentrate
on school
when
you’re
sick.
When
it’s
not
safe
for
children
to play
or there
are
no facilities
for
them
to play
on,
it’s
hard
to get
exercise.
When
you
have
to walk
two
miles
to get
fresh
produce
but
a bag
of chips
is right
around
the
corner
at the
local
store,
it’s
hard
to eat
healthy.” |
Sebelius
noted
that
in the
40 years
since
King
was
assassinated
in Memphis,
Tenn.,
there
has
been
significant
progress
for
the
nation
and
African
Americans.
“We
have
watched
African
Americans
rise
to the
highest
levels
in business
and
academia,
even
into
the
White
House,”
she
said.
“Yet
we still
have
a long
way
to go.
We’re
not
going
to achieve
Dr.
King’s
dream
overnight,
but
we’re
moving
in the
right
direction.”
One
of the
new
health
initiatives
for
the
Obama
Administration
is a
“national
roadmap,
a national
strategy
to deal
with
HIV,”
she
said.
In order
for
the
new
effort
to be
effective,
it will
need
the
help
of Howard
University
and
other
institutions
like
it,
she
said.
“People
know
you,”
she
said.
“They
trust
you.
Your
participation
and
leadership
can
make
a huge
difference.”
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