III 

110TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 640 

Expressing the sense of the Senate that there should be an increased Federal 

commitment to public health and the prevention of diseases and injuries 

for all people in the United States. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JULY 31, 2008 

Mr. CARDIN (for himself and Mrs. CLINTON) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, 

and Pensions 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing the sense of the Senate that there should be 

an increased Federal commitment to public health and 

the prevention of diseases and injuries for all people 

in the United States. 

Whereas the United States has the highest rate of preventable deaths among 19 industrialized countries and lags 

behind 28 other members of the United Nations in life 

expectancy; 

Whereas various research studies suggest that nearly 60 percent of premature deaths in the United States are attributable to environmental conditions, social circumstances, 

or behavioral choices that could be prevented; 


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•SRES 640 IS 

Whereas more money is spent each year on health care in the 

United States than in any other country in the world; 

Whereas, of the more than $2,200,000,000,000 spent on 

health care in the United States each year, less than 4 

cents out of every dollar are spent on improving public 

health and preventing diseases and injuries; 

Whereas chronic diseases are the leading cause of preventable 

death and disability in the United States, accounting for 

7 out of every 10 deaths and killing more than 1,700,000 

people in the United States each year; 

Whereas those often preventable chronic diseases account for 

approximately 75 percent of health care spending in the 

United States each year, including more than 96 cents 

out of every dollar spent under the Medicare program 

and more than 83 cents out of every dollar spent under 

the Medicaid program; 

Whereas those chronic diseases cost the United States an additional $1,000,000,000,000 each year in lost productivity and are a major contributing factor to the overall 

poor health that is placing the Nation’s economic security 

and competitiveness in jeopardy; 

Whereas the number of people with chronic diseases is rapidly increasing, and it is estimated that by 2050 nearly 

half of the population of the United States will suffer 

from at least one chronic disease if action is not taken; 

Whereas the use of clinically-based preventive services has 

been demonstrated to prevent or result in early detection 

of cancer and other diseases, save lives, and reduce overall health care costs; and 

Whereas research has shown that investing in communitylevel interventions that promote and enable proper nutriVerDate Aug 31 2005 03:35 Aug 01, 2008 Jkt 069200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR640.IS SR640

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•SRES 640 IS 

tion, increased access to physical activity, and smoking 

cessation programs can prevent or mitigate chronic diseases, improve quality of life, increase economic productivity, and reduce health care costs: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) recognizes that, in order to reduce the dis3 ease burden and health care costs associated with 

4 preventable diseases and injuries, it is imperative 

5 that the United States strengthen its public health 

6 system— 

7 (A) to provide all people in the United 

8 States with the information, resources, and en9 vironment necessary to make healthier choices 

10 and live healthier lives; and 

11 (B) to protect all people in the United 

12 States from health threats beyond their control, 

13 such as bioterrorism, natural disasters, infec14 tious disease outbreaks, and environmental haz15 ards; 

16 (2) commits to creating public health strategies 

17 to eliminate health disparities and improve the 

18 health of all people in the United States, regardless 

19 of race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status; 

20 (3) supports the prioritizing of public policies 

21 focusing on the prevention of disease and injury; 


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•SRES 640 IS 

1 (4) calls for community-based programs to sup2 port healthy lifestyles, including programs that pro3 mote proper nutrition and increased access to phys4 ical activity; 

5 (5) urges the expansion of clinical preventive 

6 activities, including screenings and immunizations; 

7 and 

8 (6) pledges to help significantly improve the 

9 health of all people in the United States by sup10 porting increased investment in Federal public 

11 health programs. 

Æ 


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