IV 

113TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 124 

Supporting the goals and ideals of National Public Health Week. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 18, 2013 

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD 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 1, 2013, through April 7, 2013, 

is National Public Health Week, and the theme for 2013 

is ‘‘Public Health is ROI: Save Lives, Save Money’’; 

Whereas, since 1995, public health organizations have used 

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; 

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

air people breathe, the water they drink, the food they 

eat, and the places where they live, learn, work, and play; 

Whereas each 10 percent increase in local public health 

spending contributes to a 6.9 percent decrease in infant 


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•HRES 124 IH 

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 deaths due to cancer; 

Whereas routine childhood immunizations save $9,900,000 in 

direct health care costs, save 33,000 lives, and prevent 

14,000,000 cases of disease; 

Whereas childhood health problems linked to preventable environmental exposures, such as lead poisoning, asthma 

complications, and developmental disabilities, cost the 

United States $76,600,000,000 in 2008, and those costs 

increased from 2.8 percent of total health care costs in 

1997 to 3.5 percent in 2008; 

Whereas the cost of providing dental care for Medicaid-eligible children who live in communities without water fluoridation is twice as high as the cost for providing dental 

care for Medicaid-eligible children who receive the oral 

health benefits of drinking water with fluoridation; 

Whereas a $52 investment in a child safety seat prevents 

$2,200 in medical costs, resulting in a return of $42 for 

every $1 invested; 

Whereas an investment in workplace wellness initiatives reduces sick leave and results in a return of $3.27 in medical costs alone for every $1 invested; 

Whereas health problems linked to hunger and food insecurity cost $130,500,000,000 annually; 

Whereas, from 1991 to 2006, investments in HIV prevention 

averted more than 350,000 infections and saved more 

than $125,000,000,000 in medical costs; and 

Whereas, by adequately supporting public health and prevention, the people of the United States can transform a 

health system focused on treating illness into a health 


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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, munici6 palities, local communities, and individuals in pre7 venting disease and injury; 

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

10 (4) encourages increased efforts and investment 

11 of resources to improve the health of people in the 

12 United States through— 

13 (A) interventions to promote community 

14 health and prevent disease and injury; and 

15 (B) strengthening the public health system 

16 of the United States; and 

17 (5) encourages the people of the United States 

18 to learn about the role that the public health system 

19 plays in improving health in the United States. 

Æ 


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