IV 

114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 187 

Supporting the goals and ideals of National Public Health Week. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 26, 2015 

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD (for herself, Ms. LEE, Ms. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM

of New Mexico, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. VELA, and Mr. HASTINGS) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 

Energy and Commerce 

RESOLUTION 

Supporting the goals and ideals of National Public Health 

Week. 

Whereas the week of April 6, 2015, through April 12, 2015, 

is National Public Health Week; 

Whereas the theme for National Public Health Week in 2015 

is ‘‘Healthiest Nation 2030’’ with the goal of making the 

United States the healthiest nation in one generation; 

Whereas public health organizations use National Public 

Health Week to educate the public, policymakers, and 

public health professionals about issues that are important to improving the health of the people of the United 

States; 


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•HRES 187 IH 

Whereas the value of a strong public health system is in the 

air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat, and 

the places where we all live, learn, work, and play; 

Whereas there is a 16 percent difference in the health status 

of people living in the healthiest States compared to people living in the least healthy States; 

Whereas public health professionals help communities prevent, prepare for, withstand, and recover from the impact 

of a full range of health threats including disease outbreaks, natural disasters, and disasters caused by human 

activity; 

Whereas public health professionals collaborate with partners 

that are not in the health sector, such as city planners, 

transportation officials, education officials, and private 

sector businesses, recognizing that other sectors have an 

important influence on health; 

Whereas according to the Institute of Medicine, despite being 

one of the wealthiest nations in the world, the United 

States ranks below many other economically prosperous 

and developing countries with respect to many indicators 

for healthy life, including life expectancy, infant mortality 

rates, low birth weight rates, and the rate of drug-related 

deaths; 

Whereas studies show that small strategic investments in prevention can result in significant savings in health care 

costs; 

Whereas each 10 percent increase in local public health 

spending contributes to a 6.9 percent decrease in infant 

deaths, a 3.2 percent decrease in cardiovascular deaths, 

a 1.4 percent decrease in deaths due to diabetes, and a 

1.1 percent decrease in cancer-related deaths; 


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•HRES 187 IH 

Whereas in communities across the country, more people are 

changing the way they care for their health by avoiding 

tobacco use, eating healthier, becoming more physically 

active, and preventing unintentional injuries at home and 

in the workplace; 

Whereas despite having an infant mortality rate that is higher than any of its other 27 economically prosperous peer 

countries, the United States has begun to make progress 

with the infant mortality rate declining 12 percent from 

2005 to 2011; 

Whereas in 2013, the percentage of adults smoking in the 

United States decreased from 21.2 percent to 19.6 percent and the percentage of physically inactive adults in 

the United States decreased from 26.2 percent to 22.9 

percent; and 

Whereas efforts to adequately support public health and prevention can continue to transform a health system focused on treating illness to a health system focused on 

preventing disease and promoting wellness: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) supports the goals and ideals of National 

3 Public Health Week; 

4 (2) recognizes the efforts of public health pro5 fessionals, the Federal Government, States, Tribes, 

6 municipalities, local communities, and individuals in 

7 preventing disease and injury; 

8 (3) recognizes the role of public health in im9 proving the health of people in the United States; 


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•HRES 187 IH 

1 (4) encourages increased efforts and resources 

2 to improve the health of people in the United States 

3 to create the healthiest nation in one generation 

4 through— 

5 (A) greater opportunities to improve com6 munity health and prevent disease and injury; 

7 and 

8 (B) strengthening of the public health sys9 tem of the United States; and 

10 (5) encourages the people of the United States 

11 to learn about the role of the public health system 

12 in improving health in the United States. 

Æ 


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