III 

110TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. CON. RES. 31 

Expressing support for advancing vital United States interests through increased engagement in health programs that alleviate disease and reduce 

premature death in developing nations, especially through programs that 

combat high levels of infectious disease, improve children’s and women’s 

health, decrease malnutrition, reduce unintended pregnancies, fight the 

spread of HIV/AIDS, encourage healthy behaviors, and strengthen health 

care capacity. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MAY 3, 2007 

Mr. FEINGOLD (for himself and Mr. SUNUNU) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations 

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 

Expressing support for advancing vital United States interests through increased engagement in health programs 

that alleviate disease and reduce premature death in 

developing nations, especially through programs that 

combat high levels of infectious disease, improve children’s and women’s health, decrease malnutrition, reduce 

unintended pregnancies, fight the spread of HIV/AIDS, 

encourage healthy behaviors, and strengthen health care 

capacity. 


bajohnson on PROD1PC77 with BILLS
2 

•SCON 31 IS 

Whereas health is integral to social and economic development and to building stable, independent, and productive 

societies; 

Whereas unnecessarily high levels of preventable death and 

disability persist in developing nations, including over 

10,000,000 child deaths every year—30,000 each day— 

a majority of which are from easily preventable or treatable causes, including pneumonia, diarrhea, malaria, malnutrition, measles, and complications immediately following birth; 40,000,000 people infected with HIV and 

3,000,000 AIDS deaths per year; 530,000 deaths of 

women every year from complications related to pregnancy and childbirth and millions of cases of trauma and 

disability caused by obstetric fistula and other preventable injuries; an unmet need for family planning among 

over 100,000,000 married women; 1,000,000 deaths annually from malaria, most of which are among young 

children and in sub-Saharan Africa; an expanding threat 

from tuberculosis, which is a principal cause of death 

among those infected with HIV and is evolving into forms 

increasingly resistant to all known drugs; the increasing 

impact of preventable, non-communicable disease, especially those deriving from tobacco use, alcohol and drug 

abuse, and other risky lifestyle behaviors; and the potential of new disease threats, such as avian influenza, which 

demand new levels of preparedness and health capacity; 

Whereas the short and long-term economic, military, and political security of countries is directly threatened by increased mortality and morbidity resulting from infectious 

diseases like HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria, poor 

maternal and newborn health, the lack of family planning 

services, and the absence of clean water; 


bajohnson on PROD1PC77 with BILLS
3 

•SCON 31 IS 

Whereas proven and cost-effective solutions that have already 

achieved astonishing successes are readily available and 

could dramatically further reduce the burden of death 

and disease, including access to immunization, antibiotics, diarrheal disease control, newborn care, improved 

nutrition, antiretrovirals, essential obstetric care, family 

planning, anti-malarials and insecticide treated nets, and 

tuberculosis treatment; 

Whereas long term gains in health require a comprehensive 

approach that addresses the range of critical health problems and builds local capacity while ensuring equitable 

access, especially by the poor, women and girls, and other 

vulnerable populations, to services; and 

Whereas the United States has a history of leadership and 

success in building international consensus and improving 

health throughout the world by investing in basic health 

services, particularly services for poor and vulnerable 

populations: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 

2 concurring), That Congress— 

3 (1) recognizes that contributing to improving 

4 health in developing nations is in the vital interest 

5 of the United States, as it helps protect the health 

6 of the American people, facilitates development 

7 among partner nations, cultivates a positive image 

8 for the United States, and projects the humanitarian 

9 values of the American people; 

10 (2) acknowledges the need to strengthen health 

11 care systems to meet essential health needs, includVerDate Aug 31 2005 03:53 May 04, 2007 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SC31.IS SC31

bajohnson on PROD1PC77 with BILLS
4 

•SCON 31 IS 

1 ing surveillance and information systems, facilities 

2 and equipment, management capacity, and an ade3 quately compensated health care work force that is 

4 appropriate in number, composition, and skills; 

5 (3) supports the unprecedented and unparal6 leled investments of the United States in reducing 

7 the global burdens of HIV/AIDS and malaria 

8 through the President’s Emergency Program for 

9 AIDS Relief and the President’s Malaria Initiative; 

10 and 

11 (4) encourages the United States Government 

12 to expand its adoption and implementation of poli13 cies and programs that alleviate the greatest burden 

14 of disease in developing nations in the most efficient 

15 and cost-effective manner possible. 

Æ 


bajohnson on PROD1PC77 with BILLS