**The full Subcommittee hearing is available HERE**
**Rep. Kuster’s full remarks are available HERE**

Washington, D.C. — Today, Rep. Annie Kuster (NH-02), a member of the Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee, participated in a Subcommittee hearing entitled, "Empowered by Data: Legislation to Advance Equity and Public Health." During the hearing, the Subcommittee heard from industry experts and considered legislation seeking to address inequities in public health, including the Kuster-backed H.R. 2503, the Social Determinants Accelerator Act of 2021.

“In my district, disparities in health access for rural areas — which are often underserved and under-resourced to address their unique challenges — have been exacerbated by COVID-19, making already present social determinants even more pronounced,” said Rep. Kuster. “The Social Determinants Accelerator Act of 2021, sponsored by my friend and colleague Rep. Cheri Bustos, tackles this problem head-on, addressing everything from expanding primary care options to increasing access to fresh foods. I’m proud to support this legislation to help communities in New Hampshire and across the country devise strategies to leverage existing programs and boost health outcomes as we recover and rebuild from this pandemic.”

Rep. Kuster has been a vocal advocate for addressing inequities in the American health care system. As the nation worked to curb the COVID-19 pandemic, she led the charge in Congress to support the efficient and equitable distribution of the coronavirus vaccines. Funding for her Coronavirus Vaccine and Therapeutic Development Act was included in the American Rescue Plan Act to help ensure that the United States would be able to mass-produce and administer COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics quickly and efficiently.

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