Health Equity and MENA Community Inclusion Act of 2025

This bill, titled the "Health Equity and MENA Community Inclusion Act of 2025," seeks to amend the Public Health Service Act by formally including Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) individuals in the statutory definition of a "racial and ethnic minority group." This change is intended to ensure that MENA populations are recognized by federal health programs, such as those administered by the Office of Minority Health, allowing them to access critical resources and initiatives designed to address health disparities. The legislation highlights that MENA individuals have historically been excluded from this definition, despite evidence of significant health disparities comparable to other recognized minority groups. A key provision of the bill directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct a comprehensive study on the unique health patterns and outcomes of MENA populations across the United States. This study will enumerate MENA populations, disaggregated by subpopulation, and analyze various health parameters including risk factors, chronic diseases, disabilities, maternal and reproductive health, and social determinants of health. The Secretary is required to consult with relevant agencies and stakeholders, including community-based organizations, to determine appropriate subpopulations for data disaggregation. The bill also mandates interim and final reports to Congress on the study's progress and findings, along with the establishment of a public online portal to catalogue the results and underlying data, all while implementing robust privacy protections for personal data.