III 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 478 

Designating November 2023 as ‘‘National Hospice and Palliative Care 

Month’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

NOVEMBER 28, 2023 

Ms. ROSEN (for herself, Mr. BARRASSO, Ms. BALDWIN, and Mrs. FISCHER) 

submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Designating November 2023 as ‘‘National Hospice and 

Palliative Care Month’’. 

Whereas palliative care and hospice services— 

(1) can empower individuals to live as fully as possible, surrounded and supported by family and loved 

ones, despite serious illnesses or injuries; and 

(2) are critical parts of the continuum of supports 

and services that individuals with serious illness and their 

families need; 

Whereas ensuring access to palliative care and hospice for all 

individuals in the United States who are in need, regardless of age, race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status, is important; 

Whereas palliative care and hospice aims to bring patients 

and family caregivers high-quality care delivered by an 


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•SRES 478 ATS 

interdisciplinary team of skilled health care professionals, 

including— 

(1) physicians; 

(2) nurses; 

(3) social workers; 

(4) therapists; 

(5) counselors; 

(6) health aides; 

(7) spiritual care providers; and 

(8) other health care professionals; 

Whereas there is a need to increase training opportunities for 

health care professionals to receive interdisciplinary 

team-based training in palliative care and hospice; 

Whereas hospice focuses on quality of life through pain management and symptom control, caregiver assistance, and 

emotional and spiritual support, with the goal of allowing 

patients to live fully until the end of life, surrounded and 

supported by loved ones, friends, and caregivers; 

Whereas trained palliative care and hospice professionals, 

during a time of trauma and loss, can provide grief and 

bereavement support services to individuals with a serious 

illness or injury, the family members of those individuals, 

and others; 

Whereas palliative care is a patient and family-centered approach to care that— 

(1) provides relief from symptoms and stress; 

(2) can be complementary to curative treatments; 

and 

(3) improves the quality of life of patients and their 

families; 


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•SRES 478 ATS 

Whereas, in 2021, more than 1,700,000 individuals in the 

United States living with a serious illness or injury, and 

the families of those individuals, received care and support from more than 5,350 hospice providers in communities across the United States; 

Whereas volunteers continue to play a vital role in supporting 

hospice care and operations; and 

Whereas palliative care and hospice providers encourage all 

patients to learn more about their options for care and 

to share their preferences with family, loved ones, and 

health care professionals: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) designates November 2023 as ‘‘National 

3 Hospice and Palliative Care Month’’; and 

4 (2) encourages the people of the United 

5 States— 

6 (A) to increase their understanding and 

7 awareness of— 

8 (i) care for hospice patients with a se9 rious illness or injury; 

10 (ii) the benefits of integrating pallia11 tive care early into the treatment plans for 

12 patients with a serious illness or injury; 

13 and 

14 (iii) the importance of grief support 

15 for caregivers and loved ones during hos16 pice care and after death; 


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•SRES 478 ATS 

1 (B) to recognize the care and dedication 

2 of— 

3 (i) millions of family caregivers; and 

4 (ii) tens of thousands of palliative 

5 care and hospice staff and volunteers; and 

6 (C) to observe ‘‘National Hospice and Pal7 liative Care Month’’ with appropriate activities 

8 and programs. 

Æ 


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