III 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 338 

Designating the week of September 23 through September 27, 2019, as 

‘‘Malnutrition Awareness Week’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 25, 2019 

Mr. MURPHY (for himself, Mr. GRASSLEY, Ms. SINEMA, Mr. BOOKER, Mr. 

BLUMENTHAL, Mrs. CAPITO, Mr. COONS, Ms. HASSAN, Mr. KING, Mr. 

ROBERTS, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Mr. LANKFORD, and Mr. WYDEN) submitted 

the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 

RESOLUTION 

Designating the week of September 23 through September 

27, 2019, as ‘‘Malnutrition Awareness Week’’. 

Whereas malnutrition is the condition that occurs when a 

person does not get enough nutrients; 

Whereas malnutrition is a significant problem in the United 

States and around the world, crossing all age, racial, 

class, gender, and geographic lines; 

Whereas, in the United States, infants, older adults, people 

with chronic diseases, and other vulnerable populations 

are particularly at risk for malnutrition; 

Whereas disease-associated malnutrition costs the United 

States more than $15,500,000,000 each year; 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
2 

•SRES 338 IS 

Whereas approximately 3⁄4 of individuals in the United States 

have eating patterns of vegetables, fruits, dairy, and oils 

that are below the recommended dietary guidelines; 

Whereas many vulnerable individuals in the United States do 

not get the daily recommended amount of lean proteins; 

Whereas approximately 6,000,000 children in the United 

States live in food insecure homes; 

Whereas the American Academy of Pediatrics has found that 

failure to provide key nutrients during early childhood 

may result in lifelong deficits in brain function; 

Whereas disease-associated malnutrition affects between 30 

and 50 percent of patients admitted to hospitals; 

Whereas the medical costs of hospitalized patients with malnutrition can be 300 percent more than the medical costs 

of properly nourished patients; 

Whereas more than 1⁄2 of older adults living in the community are at risk for malnutrition; and 

Whereas the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral 

Nutrition created Malnutrition Awareness Week to raise 

awareness and promote prevention of malnutrition: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) designates the week of September 23 

3 through September 27, 2019, as ‘‘Malnutrition 

4 Awareness Week’’; 

5 (2) recognizes registered dietitian nutritionists 

6 and other nutrition professionals, health care pro7 viders, social workers, advocates, caregivers, and 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
3 

•SRES 338 IS 

1 other professionals and agencies for their efforts to 

2 advance awareness and prevention of malnutrition; 

3 (3) recognizes the importance of existing Fed4 eral nutrition programs for their role in combatting 

5 malnutrition and supports continuing resources to 

6 prevent and treat malnutrition; and 

7 (4) recognizes the need to reauthorize the spe8 cial supplemental nutrition program for women, in9 fants, and children established by section 17 of the 

10 Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786) and 

11 the child nutrition programs of the Department of 

12 Agriculture to provide critical nutrition assistance to 

13 vulnerable populations. 

Æ 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS