III 

113TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 135 

Designating the week of October 7 through October 13, 2013, as ‘‘Naturopathic Medicine Week’’ to recognize the value of naturopathic medicine 

in providing safe, effective, and affordable health care. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MAY 9, 2013 

Ms. MIKULSKI submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on the Judiciary 

RESOLUTION 

Designating the week of October 7 through October 13, 

2013, as ‘‘Naturopathic Medicine Week’’ to recognize 

the value of naturopathic medicine in providing safe, 

effective, and affordable health care. 

Whereas, in the United States, 75 percent of all health care 

spending is for the treatment of preventable chronic illnesses, including high blood pressure, which affects 

68,000,000 people in the United States, and diabetes, 

which affects 26,000,000 people in the United States; 

Whereas nearly two-thirds of adults in the United States are 

overweight or obese and, consequently, at risk for serious 

health conditions, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, 

cardiovascular disease, arthritis, and depression; 

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2 

•SRES 135 IS 

Whereas 70 percent of people in the United States experience 

physical or nonphysical symptoms of stress, which can 

contribute to chronic health conditions, such as high 

blood pressure, obesity, and diabetes; 

Whereas the aforementioned health conditions are among the 

most preventable health conditions and are especially responsive to the preventive, whole-person approach favored 

by naturopathic medicine; 

Whereas naturopathic medicine provides noninvasive, holistic 

treatments that support the inherent self-healing capacity 

of the human body and encourage self-responsibility in 

health care; 

Whereas naturopathic medicine reduces health care costs because of its focus on patient-centered care, the prevention 

of chronic illnesses, and early intervention in the treatment of chronic illnesses; 

Whereas naturopathic physicians attend 4-year, graduate 

level programs with rigorous admission requirements at 

institutions that are recognized by the Department of 

Education; 

Whereas naturopathic physicians are especially skilled in 

treating chronic illnesses, such as diabetes, asthma, autoimmune disorders, and gastrointestinal disorders, because 

of their focus on whole-body medicine rather than symptom management; 

Whereas naturopathic physicians are trained to serve as primary care physicians and can help redress the shortage 

of primary care providers in the United States; 

Whereas naturopathic physicians are trained to refer patients 

to conventional physicians and specialists when necessary; 

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•SRES 135 IS 

Whereas patients of naturopathic physicians report higher 

patient satisfaction and health improvement than patients of conventional medicine; 

Whereas the profession of naturopathic medicine is dedicated 

to providing health care to underserved populations; 

Whereas naturopathic medicine provides consumers in the 

United States with more choice in health care, in line 

with the increased use of a variety of integrative medical 

treatments; and 

Whereas the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act 

(Public Law 111–148; 124 Stat. 119) requires that insurers include and reimburse licensed health care providers, including naturopathic physicians, in health insurance plans: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) designates the week of October 7 through 

3 October 13, 2013, as ‘‘Naturopathic Medicine 

4 Week’’; 

5 (2) recognizes the value of naturopathic medi6 cine in providing safe, effective, and affordable 

7 health care; and 

8 (3) encourages the people of the United States 

9 to learn about naturopathic medicine and the role 

10 that naturopathic physicians play in preventing 

11 chronic and debilitating illnesses and conditions. 

Æ 

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