HB 2737: Racism as a Public Health Crisis

A first hearing on HB 2737 occurred on Tuesday, March 23. While it is widely known that too many in our community struggle daily with the harsh realities of navigating through hostile territory, suffering the real life consequences of unequal education, lack of quality housing, poor healthcare, fewer employment and workforce options, and limited economic have created disproportionate harm to BIPOC communities, little to no data has not been collected.

HB 2737 would call for collection of data that canconfirm the higher

proportion of suffering and harm to BIPOC communities, and contribute to development of equitable policies and practices to undo and eliminate the racialized practices and exclusion that contributed to unhealthy and deadly outcomes for BIPOC communities. Multnomah County has also acknowledged the serious effects of racism and its impacts on healthcare access, delivery and emotional, physical and mental health of Blacks and other communities of color.

Multnomah County has developed policy goals and department outcomes to eliminate these impacts in support of an equitable, accessible, thriving community for all.