March 16, 2022

CEO Action for Racial Equity applauds President Biden and Congress on the bipartisan passage and signing of the Fiscal Year 2022 Omnibus Appropriations package, which takes many actions that align with our mission to advance racial equity for Black Americans through public policy. This important legislation provides for continued access to needed health services by extending key telehealth coverage provisions beyond the end of the Federal Public Health Emergency, and requires better collection of data related to telehealth. The legislation also increases funding for Community Development Financial Institutions, Early Childhood Education Programs and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and other programs that advance access to healthy food and build toward food equity in underserved communities, including funding for an important convening to address hunger nationwide. Finally, the legislation contains important initiatives on broadband access, programs to address health disparities and drive health equity, and increased funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

We believe that this is a critical step. However, continued work is needed for this funding to have greater impact and for progress to continue to be made at the federal and state levels.