III 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 91 

Supporting the goals and ideals of National Professional Social Work Month 

in March 2017 and World Social Work Day on March 21, 2017. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MARCH 21, 2017 

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

Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions 

RESOLUTION 

Supporting the goals and ideals of National Professional 

Social Work Month in March 2017 and World Social 

Work Day on March 21, 2017. 

Whereas the primary mission of the social work profession is 

to enhance the well-being and help meet the basic needs 

of all individuals, especially the most vulnerable individuals in society; 

Whereas social work pioneers have helped— 

(1) lead the struggle for social justice in the United 

States; and 

(2) pave the way for positive social change for millions of people of the United States each day; 

Whereas social workers work in all areas of United States society to improve happiness, health, and prosperity, including in government, schools, institutions of higher eduVerDate Sep 11 2014 23:06 Mar 21, 2017 Jkt 069200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR91.IS SR91

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•SRES 91 IS 

cation, social service agencies, communities, the military, 

and mental health and health care facilities; 

Whereas social workers— 

(1) are key employees at the Federal, State, and 

local levels of government; and 

(2) work to expand policies and practices that promote equity and social justice for all individuals; 

Whereas, as of March 2017, there are almost 650,000 social 

workers in the United States, and social work is one of 

the fastest-growing careers in the United States; 

Whereas social workers help individuals, organizations, communities, and the larger society tackle and solve the 

issues that confront the individuals, communities, and 

larger society; 

Whereas each day social workers embody the themes of— 

(1) National Professional Social Work Month in 

March 2017, which is ‘‘Social Workers Stand Up!’’; and 

(2) World Social Work Day on March 21, 2017, 

which is ‘‘Promoting Community and Environmental Stability’’; 

Whereas social workers have pushed for decades to ensure 

equal rights for all individuals, including women, African 

Americans, Latinos, individuals who are disabled, individuals who are LGBTQ, and individuals of various ethnic, 

cultural, and religious groups; 

Whereas social workers have worked to reduce racial discord 

by advocating for— 

(1) legislation, including— 

(A) the Medicaid program under title XIX of 

the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.); 


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•SRES 91 IS 

(B) each reauthorization of the Voting Rights 

Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 1971 note; Public Law 89– 

110); 

(C) the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 

2000a et seq.); 

(D) the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 

(42 U.S.C. 13925 et seq.); and 

(E) the Patient Protection and Affordable Care 

Act (Public Law 111–148; 124 Stat. 119); and 

(2) policies relating to— 

(A) benefits under the Social Security Act (42 

U.S.C. 301 et seq.); 

(B) unemployment insurance; and 

(C) workplace safety; 

Whereas social workers are the largest group of mental 

health care providers in the United States, and social 

workers work each day to help individuals overcome substance use disorders and mental illnesses, such as depression and anxiety; 

Whereas the Department of Veterans Affairs employs more 

than 12,000 professional social workers, and social workers help to bolster the security of the United States by 

providing support to active duty military personnel, veterans, and the families of active duty military personnel 

and veterans; 

Whereas thousands of child, family, and school social workers 

across the United States provide assistance to protect 

children and improve the social and psychological functioning of children and their families; 

Whereas social workers help children find loving homes and 

create new families through adoption; 


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•SRES 91 IS 

Whereas social workers in schools work with families and 

schools to foster future generations by ensuring that each 

student reaches the full academic and personal potential 

of the student; 

Whereas social workers work with older adults and the families of older adults— 

(1) to improve quality of life and the ability to live 

independently as long as possible; and 

(2) to have access to quality health care and mental 

health care; and 

Whereas social workers help the United States and other nations overcome earthquakes, floods, wars, and other disasters by helping survivors receive services, including 

food, shelter, health care, and mental health care to address stress and anxiety: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) supports the goals and ideals of— 

3 (A) National Professional Social Work 

4 Month in March 2017; and 

5 (B) World Social Work Day on March 21, 

6 2017; 

7 (2) acknowledges the diligent efforts of each in8 dividual and group that promotes the importance of 

9 social work and observes National Professional So10 cial Work Month and World Social Work Day; 

11 (3) encourages the people of the United States 

12 to engage in appropriate ceremonies and activities to 


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•SRES 91 IS 

1 promote further awareness of the life-changing role 

2 that social workers play; and 

3 (4) recognizes with gratitude the contributions 

4 of the millions of caring individuals that have chosen 

5 to serve the community through social work. 

Æ 


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