III 

115TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 462 

Supporting the goals and ideals of National Public Health Week. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

APRIL 12, 2018 

Mr. UDALL (for himself, Mr. WHITEHOUSE, Mr. MARKEY, Ms. HEITKAMP, 

Ms. WARREN, Mr. CARDIN, Mr. KING, Mrs. SHAHEEN, Ms. KLOBUCHAR, 

Mr. BLUMENTHAL, Mr. HEINRICH, Mrs. MURRAY, Mr. BROWN, Ms. HASSAN, and Mr. VAN HOLLEN) submitted the following resolution; which 

was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions 

RESOLUTION 

Supporting the goals and ideals of National Public Health 

Week. 

Whereas the week of April 2, 2018, through April 8, 2018, 

is National Public Health Week; 

Whereas the theme for National Public Health Week in 2018 

is ‘‘Healthiest Nation 2030: Changing Our Future Together’’, with the goal of making the United States the 

healthiest Nation in one generation; 

Whereas there is a significant difference in the health status 

of individuals with different abilities and demographics, 

such as obesity, poor mental health and infectious disease, of people living in the healthiest States compared 

to people living in the least healthy States; 


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•SRES 462 IS 

Whereas according to the National Academy of Medicine, despite being one of the wealthiest nations in the world, the 

United States ranks below many other economically prosperous and developing countries with respect to measures 

of health, including life expectancy, infant mortality and 

maternal mortality rates; 

Whereas the life expectancy for the United States population 

declined for the second year in a row, and the leading 

causes of deaths are among the most common, costly, 

and preventable of all health problems; 

Whereas despite having a high infant mortality rate compared to other economically prosperous and developing 

countries, and the death rate varying greatly among 

States, overall, the United States was making steady 

progress, until recently, with the infant mortality rate 

reaching a historic low of 5.8 infant deaths per 1,000 live 

births in 2016; 

Whereas more women die from pregnancy-related deaths in 

the United States than any other developed country, and 

the number of maternal deaths per 100,000 live births 

has increased from 16.9 in 1990 to 26.4 in 2015; 

Whereas the number of overdose deaths involving opioids was 

more than five times higher than in 1999 and 115 Americans on average die every day from an opioid-involved 

death requiring a comprehensive strategy across a range 

of sectors including robust efforts to prevent substance 

misuse disorders; 

Whereas the percentage of adults using tobacco products in 

the United States, the leading cause of preventable disease and death in the United States, accounting for more 

than 480,000 deaths every year including more than 


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•SRES 462 IS 

41,000 deaths resulting from secondhand smoke, decreased from 20.9 percent in 2005 to 15.5 percent in 

2016; 

Whereas approximately 554,000 adults suffered from homelessness in the United States in 2017, an increase since 

2010, with 35 percent of homeless individuals still living 

unsheltered; 

Whereas the value of a strong public health system is in the 

air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat, and 

the places where we all live, learn, work, worship, and 

play; 

Whereas public health organizations use National Public 

Health Week to educate the public, policymakers, and 

public health professionals on issues that are important 

to improving the health of the people of the United 

States; 

Whereas studies show that small strategic investments in prevention can result in significant savings in health care 

costs; 

Whereas each 10 percent increase in local public health 

spending contributes to a 6.9 percent decrease in infant 

deaths, a 3.2 percent decrease in deaths related to cardiovascular disease, a 1.4 percent decrease in deaths due 

to diabetes, and a 1.1 percent decrease in cancer-related 

deaths; 

Whereas public health professionals help communities prevent, prepare for, withstand, and recover from the impact 

of a full range of health threats, including disease outbreaks such as the Zika virus, natural disasters, and disasters caused by human activity; 


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•SRES 462 IS 

Whereas public health professionals collaborate with partners 

that are not in the health sector, such as city planners, 

transportation officials, education officials, and private 

sector businesses, recognizing that other sectors have an 

important influence on health; 

Whereas in communities across the United States, people are 

changing the way they care for their health by avoiding 

tobacco use, eating healthier, becoming more physically 

active, and preventing unintentional injuries at home and 

in the workplace; and 

Whereas efforts to adequately support public health and prevention can continue to transform a health system focused on treating illness to a health system focused on 

preventing disease and promoting wellness: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) supports the goals and ideals of National 

3 Public Health Week; 

4 (2) recognizes the efforts of public health pro5 fessionals, the Federal Government, States, Tribes, 

6 municipalities, local communities, and individuals in 

7 preventing disease, injury, and promoting quality of 

8 life; 

9 (3) recognizes the role of public health in im10 proving the health of individuals in the United 

11 States; 

12 (4) encourages increased efforts and resources 

13 to improve the health of people in the United States 


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•SRES 462 IS 

1 to create the healthiest Nation in one generation 

2 through— 

3 (A) greater opportunities to improve com4 munity health and prevent disease and injury; 

5 (B) strengthening the public health system 

6 in the United States; and 

7 (C) using data to guide policies and behav8 iors that promote health and quality of life; and 

9 (5) encourages the people of the United States 

10 to learn about the role of the public health system 

11 in improving health in the United States. 

Æ 


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