H.R. 6767 — Health Equity and MENA Community Inclusion Act of 2025

This section defines the terms “Middle Eastern and North African” or “MENA,” with respect to individuals or populations, to include those who identify with or belong to one or more nationalities or ethnic groups originating in a country (or portion thereof) in the Middle Eastern and North African region (e.g., Lebanese, Iranians, Egyptians, Moroccans, Yemenis, Chaldeans, Imazighen, Kurds, Palestinians, and Yazidis).

This section states congressional findings that, among other matters, (1) the Office of Management and Budget recognized Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) populations in Statistical Policy Directive 15 on March 28, 2024; (2) the Office of Minority Health (OMH), established in 1986 following a 1985 report on Black and minority health, addresses health disparities among racial and ethnic minority groups previously defined under 42 U.S.C. 300u-6(g)(1) to exclude MENA individuals; and (3) MENA populations experience significant health disparities comparable to other minorities, warranting their inclusion in OMH programs and data disaggregation from non-Hispanic Whites.

This section revises the definition of "racial and ethnic minority group" in section 1707(g)(1) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300u–6(g)(1))—used in various federal health care and public health programs—to include Middle Easterners and North Africans, in addition to Blacks or African Americans and Hispanics (previously Blacks and Hispanics). It states the sense of Congress that the revision must be implemented to apply across relevant federal programs without negatively impacting any existing racial or ethnic minority group. The section further directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services, not later than two years after enactment, to (1) identify all Department of Health and Human Services regulations, guidance, orders, and documents using "racial and ethnic minority group" or similar terms without defining them and (2) clarify whether the revised definition applies; and to submit to Congress a report on implementation of the section.

This section requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct or support a comprehensive study on the unique health patterns and outcomes of Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) populations in the United States, including an enumeration of such populations disaggregated by subpopulation. The study must assess, for each population and subpopulation, rates of (1) health risk factors (e.g., tobacco use, obesity, environmental exposures, social determinants of health); (2) chronic diseases or illnesses (e.g., specified cancers, cardiovascular and respiratory conditions, infectious and autoimmune diseases); (3) disabilities and disorders (e.g., sensory impairments, mental and behavioral conditions, substance use disorders, genetic disorders); (4) maternal and reproductive health outcomes; (5) nutritional deficiencies; (6) child and adolescent health outcomes; (7) dental health outcomes; (8) violence (e.g., domestic violence, sexual assault); and (9) associated morbidity and mortality. It further requires analysis of (1) contributing factors to these rates; (2) leading causes of morbidity, mortality, and pregnancy-related outcomes; (3) health care access effects; (4) disparities within MENA subpopulations and versus other racial/ethnic groups; (5) other relevant health parameters; and (6) federal health programs' contributions to these outcomes. The Secretary must consult the Census Bureau, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institutes of Health, Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, and stakeholders to define subpopulations and conduct the study; establish a public online portal upon study completion to share results, data, and reports; and submit reports, including an interim report.