Kamala Harris Introduces Bill to Expand Bias, Anti-Racism Training in COVID-19 Response

California Democratic Sen. Kamala Harris announced legislation Wednesday to expand bias and anti-racism training among health providers and others involved in COVID-19 testing and treatment.

The effort is in response to the disproportionately high infection and death rates among Black and Hispanic people across the country, who are three times as likely to contract COVID-19 than their white counterparts, and nearly twice as likely to die from the virus, according to the latest available Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data (compiled by the New York Times).

The COVID-19 Bias and Anti-Racism Training Act would create a $200 million grant program for hospitals, public health departments, other care providers and professional health schools to establish or improve bias and anti-racism trainings.

Additionally, the bill would prioritize funding for providers in communities with particularly high racial and ethnic disparities in COVID-19 infection, hospitalization, ICU admission and death rates. It would also require the secretary of Health and Human Services — in collaboration with community groups and policy experts — to develop standards for ongoing, evidence-based training programs.

“People of color are being infected and dying from COVID-19 at disproportionate and astounding rates,” Harris said in a statement. “This is, in part, due to persistent bias in our health care system. We must take action to address this issue, especially as our country continues to face an unprecedented health crisis.”

U.S. Rep. Alma Adams, D-North Carolina, will introduce companion legislation in the House of Representatives.

— Matthew Green (@MGreenKQED)