IV 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 270 

Supporting the goals and ideals of National Public Health Week. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 6, 2017 

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD (for herself, Mr. WITTMAN, Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas, 

Mr. MCGOVERN, Ms. GRANGER, Ms. SLAUGHTER, Ms. MICHELLE LUJAN

GRISHAM of New Mexico, Mr. HASTINGS, Mrs. DINGELL, Ms. KELLY of 

Illinois, Ms. MATSUI, Ms. ADAMS, Mrs. NAPOLITANO, Ms. NORTON, Mr. 

GRIJALVA, Ms. MCCOLLUM, Mr. RASKIN, Ms. MOORE, Mr. RUTHERFORD, and Ms. BARRAGA ́N) submitted the following resolution; which was 

referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 

RESOLUTION 

Supporting the goals and ideals of National Public Health 

Week. 

Whereas the week of April 3, 2017, through April 9, 2017, 

is National Public Health Week; 

Whereas the theme for National Public Health Week in 2017 

is ‘‘Healthiest Nation 2030’’, with the goal of making the 

United States the healthiest nation in one generation; 

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 


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•HRES 270 IH 

of health, including life expectancy and the rate of infant 

mortality; 

Whereas the life expectancy for the United States population 

declined for the first time in more than two decades, and 

the leading causes of deaths are among the most common, costly, and preventable of all health problems; 

Whereas there is a significant difference in the health status, 

such as that relating to obesity, poor mental health, and 

infectious disease, of people living in the healthiest States 

compared to people living in the least healthy States; 

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 2014; 

Whereas opioid-involved deaths have more than quadrupled 

since 1999, requiring a comprehensive strategy across a 

range of sectors, including robust efforts to prevent substance misuse disorders; 

Whereas the percentage of adults smoking cigarettes in the 

United States, the leading cause of preventable disease 

and death in the United States and accounting for more 

than 480,000 deaths each year, decreased from 20.9 percent in 2005 to 15.1 percent in 2015; 

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, and play; 

Whereas public health organizations use National Public 

Health Week to educate the public, policymakers, and 


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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; 

Whereas public health professionals collaborate with partners 

outside 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 


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

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

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 and injury; 

8 (3) recognizes the role of public health in im9 proving the health of individuals in the United 

10 States; 

11 (4) encourages increased efforts and resources 

12 to improve the health of individuals in the United 

13 States to create the healthiest nation in one genera14 tion through— 

15 (A) greater opportunities to improve com16 munity health and prevent disease and injury; 

17 and 

18 (B) strengthening the public health system 

19 in the United States; and 

20 (5) encourages the people of the United States 

21 to learn about the role of the public health system 

22 in improving health in the United States. 

Æ 


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