Expressing support for the designation of October 1 as "National Latino and Latina Physician Day".

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1589 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1589

   Expressing support for the designation of October 1 as ``National 
                   Latino and Latina Physician Day''.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 28, 2026

    Mr. Ruiz (for himself and Ms. Salazar) submitted the following 
 resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
   Expressing support for the designation of October 1 as ``National 
                   Latino and Latina Physician Day''.

Whereas the Latino and Latina population in the United States will rise from 
        42,000,000 individuals in 2005 to 128,000,000 individuals by 2050;
Whereas Latinos and Latinas comprise 60 percent of the population growth in the 
        United States;
Whereas, by 2050, Latinos and Latinas will account for more than 1 in 4 
        individuals in the United States and 1 in 3 children in the United 
        States;
Whereas, as of 2024, only 6.7 percent of physicians in the United States are 
        Latino or Latina;
Whereas only 2.8 percent of physicians in the United States are Latina;
Whereas the Latino and Latina population faces significant barriers to accessing 
        medical care, including high poverty, fewer facilities in Latino and 
        Latina communities, and language and cultural barriers;
Whereas a lack of diversity in the medical field leads to worse health outcomes 
        for Latino and Latina patients, including higher rates of chronic 
        disease and maternal mortality;
Whereas research shows that when physicians are of the same ethnicity, culture, 
        and language as the patients of such physicians, care and outcomes 
        improve;
Whereas, according to AAMC projections, the United States will face a persistent 
        physician shortage of up to 86,000 physicians by 2036, and the health of 
        the Nation depends on increasing access to careers in medicine, 
        including the number of Latino and Latina physicians;
Whereas the first National Latino and Latina Physician Day occurred across the 
        United States on October 1, 2022, and was supported by multiple national 
        organizations and the Latino and Latina community, including premedical 
        students, resident physicians, and attending physicians; and
Whereas the designation of October 1 as ``National Latino and Latina Physician 
        Day'' will bring awareness to the benefits Latino and Latina physicians 
        bring to the growing Latino and Latina population and the health of the 
        United States as a whole: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports the goals of increasing the number of Latino 
        and Latina physicians in the United States and increasing 
        diversity in the medical field; and
            (2) supports the designation of ``National Latino and 
        Latina Physician Day''.
                                 <all>