III 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 689 

Supporting the goals and ideals of National Hospital Week, to be observed 

from May 12 through May 18, 2024. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MAY 15, 2024 

Mr. BARRASSO (for himself, Mr. WHITEHOUSE, Mrs. BLACKBURN, and Mrs. 

CAPITO) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and 

agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Supporting the goals and ideals of National Hospital Week, 

to be observed from May 12 through May 18, 2024. 

Whereas, beginning in 1921, National Hospital Day was established by former President Warren G. Harding to be 

celebrated annually on May 12, the birthday of Florence 

Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing, as a way to 

honor her role in revolutionizing hospital care; 

Whereas National Hospital Day was established following the 

Spanish Flu Outbreak of 1918 as a way to build community trust in hospitals; 

Whereas, beginning in 1953, National Hospital Week was established and continues to coincide with the birthday of 

Florence Nightingale; 


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•SRES 689 ATS 

Whereas National Hospital Week is a time of year to reflect 

on the important contributions that hospitals make to 

provide safe, high-quality health care; 

Whereas, in 2024, approximately 6,120 hospitals in the 

United States provide essential and life-saving health 

care every day in a variety of hospitals settings, including— 

(1) 1,368 critical access hospitals, which serve as 

important health care hubs by bringing essential medical 

services closer to individuals who would otherwise have to 

travel long distances for health care, provide health care 

to 1⁄5 of the United States population residing in rural 

areas; 

(2) nearly 1,700 teaching hospitals, of which roughly 

300 are major teaching hospitals, such as university hospitals or academic medical centers, that provide essential 

training to future medical providers; 

(3) 659 non-Federal psychiatric hospitals that are 

essential partners in addressing mental health and substance abuse disorders across the United States; and 

(4) 172 Veterans Affairs medical centers that are 

uniquely responsible for providing health care to more 

than 9,000,000 veterans; 

Whereas, in 2023, hospitals in the United States provided 

health care to more than 33,000,000 admitted patients, 

provided emergency care to nearly 137,000,000 patients, 

and delivered more than 3,500,000 babies; 

Whereas, in 2024, hospitals employed more than 5,486,000 

individuals, including physicians, registered nurses, and 

allied health professionals; 

Whereas 45 percent of individuals employed by hospitals are 

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•SRES 689 ATS 

ice workers, and many others, who work to keep hospitals 

open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in order to ensure 

hospitals are always available to individuals that need 

health care; 

Whereas hospitals, through direct care and community outreach, can provide the expertise and resources needed to 

address the unique health care needs that exist in rural 

and urban areas of the United States; and 

Whereas hospitals work collaboratively to uphold the health 

care system of the United States: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) supports the goals and ideals of National 

3 Hospital Week, to be observed from May 12 through 

4 May 18, 2024; 

5 (2) recognizes the significant role that hospitals 

6 play in the delivery of health care in the United 

7 States; and 

8 (3) encourages the people of the United States 

9 to observe National Hospital Week with appropriate 

10 recognition, ceremonies, activities, and programs to 

11 demonstrate the importance of hospitals to the ev12 eryday lives of patients and communities. 

Æ 


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