IV 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. CON. RES. 124 

Expressing the sense of Congress that public health professionals should 

be commended for their dedication and service to the United States 

on Public Health Thank You Day, November 23, 2020. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

NOVEMBER 19, 2020 

Mr. WITTMAN (for himself, Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD, Mr. SIMPSON, and Mr. 

MCGOVERN) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 

Expressing the sense of Congress that public health professionals should be commended for their dedication and 

service to the United States on Public Health Thank 

You Day, November 23, 2020. 

Whereas the health, security, and well-being of all people in 

the United States is essential to a functioning democracy 

and strong economy; 

Whereas public health research and practice advances each of 

these integral attributes of a thriving Nation; 

Whereas public health professionals work to lessen the burden of disease through research, surveillance and monitoring, education, and prevention by developing strategies, tools, policies, and programs, and in so doing are esVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:41 Nov 20, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HC124.IH HC124

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•HCON 124 IH 

sential to improving quality of life and extending life expectancy; 

Whereas public health professionals have continuously shown 

their value in reducing and abating health and environmental threats such as influenza and lead poisoning, 

tracing and addressing food-borne illnesses, and other 

disease outbreaks, and promoting wellness by encouraging healthy behaviors; 

Whereas, as of November 6, 2020, COVID–19, a global 

health pandemic, has claimed the lives of over 230,000 

Americans and the number of persons infected has surpassed 9,500,000; 

Whereas public health professionals continue to selflessly 

serve as a first line of defense against COVID–19, providing patient care, uncovering critical information about 

the virus and strategies for mitigating its destructive impact, and shaping strategies for forestalling and minimizing the damage of future outbreaks; 

Whereas public health professionals work tirelessly to prevent 

other infectious diseases from spreading and to reduce 

the impact of the spectrum of longstanding and emerging 

global health threats; 

Whereas public health professionals play a critical role in 

combating opioid addiction and opioid-related overdose 

deaths, which are devastating communities across the 

Nation; 

Whereas public health professionals are working to combat 

antimicrobial resistance, which affects 2,800,000 people 

in the United States and leads to the deaths of at least 

35,000 Americans each year; 


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•HCON 124 IH 

Whereas public health professionals play a pivotal role in reducing racial, ethnic, and geographical disparities in 

health and health care that dampen the Nation’s 

strength, prosperity, and productivity; 

Whereas COVID–19 has intensified health disparities, disproportionately affecting communities of color and creating acute health care challenges in rural areas of the 

Nation; and 

Whereas public health professionals are among the heroic 

first responders who respond to and work to prevent natural disasters and environmental hazards that present a 

persistent threat to the life, health, and safety of all individuals in the United States: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 

2 concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that public 

3 health professionals in the United States are to be ap4 plauded, extolled, and thanked on Public Health Thank 

5 You Day for their widespread and meaningful contribu6 tions to the Nation. 

Æ 


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