IV 

114TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 680 

Supporting the goals and ideals of National Public Health Week. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 14, 2016 

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD (for herself, Mr. WITTMAN, Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas, 

Mr. MCGOVERN, Ms. GRANGER, Ms. NORTON, Ms. MICHELLE LUJAN

GRISHAM of New Mexico, Ms. MATSUI, Mr. CONYERS, Mr. RANGEL, Mr. 

GRIJALVA, Ms. LEE, Ms. JACKSON LEE, Mr. VELA, Ms. CLARKE of New 

York, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, and Mr. HONDA) 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 4, 2016, through April 10, 2016, 

was National Public Health Week; 

Whereas the theme for National Public Health Week in 2016 

was ‘‘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 on issues that are important 

to improving the health of the people of the United 

States; 


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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 significant difference in the health status, 

such as obesity, poor mental health and infectious disease, 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 such as the Zika virus, 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 National Academy 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 measures 

of health, including life expectancy, infant mortality 

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

deaths, which has increased 200 percent since 2000 for 

overdose deaths involving opioids; 

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 deaths related to carVerDate Sep 11 2014 02:08 Apr 15, 2016 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR680.IH HR680

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diovascular disease, a 1.4 percent decrease in deaths due 

to diabetes, and a 1.1 percent decrease in cancer-related 

deaths; 

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 a high infant mortality rate compared to other economically prosperous and developing 

countries, and the death rate varying greatly among 

States, overall the United States is making steady 

progress, with the infant mortality rate reaching a historic low of 5.8 infant deaths per 1,000 live births in 

2014; 

Whereas the percentage of adults smoking cigarettes in the 

United States, the leading cause of preventable disease 

and death in the United States, decreased from 20.9 percent in 2005 to 16.8 percent in 2014; 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, 


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1 municipalities, local communities, and individuals in 

2 preventing disease and injury; 

3 (3) recognizes the role of public health in im4 proving the health of individuals in the United 

5 States; 

6 (4) encourages increased efforts and resources 

7 to improve the health of people in the United States 

8 to create the healthiest nation in one generation 

9 through— 

10 (A) greater opportunities to improve com11 munity health and prevent disease and injury; 

12 and 

13 (B) strengthening the public health system 

14 in the United States; and 

15 (5) encourages the people of the United States 

16 to learn about the role of the public health system 

17 in improving health in the United States. 

Æ 


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