HHS joins our nation in honoring the principles and values of the Civil Rights Act. On July 13, 2004, HHS will hold its official celebration of the Act in the Great Hall of the Hubert Humphrey Building in Washington, D.C. This celebration, "Remembering the Past, Moving Forward," will include a tribute to employees of this Department (then the Department of Health, Education and Welfare), who worked diligently and sometimes in the face of concerted resistance to ensure health care provider compliance with the Civil Rights Act's non-discrimination mandate. We will also acknowledge and extend our appreciation to exemplary HHS grantees who are working with us in a variety of ways to close the health care gap.

HHS is carrying out many activities to promote both the letter and the spirit of the Civil Rights Act. Our task today is not limited to enforcement against overt discrimination; we still have a long journey before us to achieve equal opportunity for all Americans. This includes not only support for families and children in need, but equality in access to health care, including special attention to addressing disparities in health status among minority Americans. Vigorous pursuit of these goals is the highest tribute we can pay to those whose struggles and dedication culminated in the watershed moment we celebrate this month.

As we prepare to celebrate Independence Day, it is fitting that we stop to recognize the freedom of equality that the Civil Rights Act brought to our great nation. I salute the dedicated staff of our department, particularly those in our Office for Civil Rights, for their past and continuing efforts to make the promise of equality and non-discrimination a reality.