III 

112TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 417 

Supporting the goals and ideals of National Public Health Week. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MARCH 29, 2012 

Mr. MERKLEY (for himself, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Mr. UDALL of New Mexico, Mr. 

AKAKA, Mr. COONS, Mr. TESTER, Mr. WYDEN, Mr. BEGICH, Mr. BROWN

of Ohio, and Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, 

Labor, and Pensions 

RESOLUTION 

Supporting the goals and ideals of National Public Health 

Week. 

Whereas the week of April 2, 2012, through April 8, 2012, 

is National Public Health Week; 

Whereas the theme for National Public Health Week in 2012 

is ‘‘A Healthier America Begins Today: Join the Movement’’; 

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 people in 

the United States; 


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•SRES 417 IS 

Whereas preventing diseases and injuries is critical to helping 

people live longer, healthier lives while managing healthrelated costs; 

Whereas chronic diseases, such as heart disease, cancer, and 

diabetes are responsible for millions of premature deaths 

and cause the people in the United States to miss 

2,500,000,000 days of work each year, resulting in lost 

productivity totaling more than $1,000,000,000,000; 

Whereas in 2012, people in the United States are living 78 

years on average, but only 69 of these years are spent 

in good health; 

Whereas despite providing some of the best health care in the 

world, the United States still ranks below many countries 

in life expectancy, infant mortality, and many other indicators of healthy life; 

Whereas studies have shown that small strategic investments 

in prevention could result in significant savings in healthcare costs; and 

Whereas in communities across the United States, 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: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

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, municiVerDate Mar 15 2010 03:47 Mar 30, 2012 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR417.IS SR417

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•SRES 417 IS 

1 palities, local communities, and every person in the 

2 United States in preventing disease and injury; 

3 (3) recognizes the role of public health in im4 proving the health of people in the United States; 

5 (4) encourages increased efforts and resources 

6 to improve the health of people in the United States 

7 through— 

8 (A) strategies to promote community 

9 health and prevent disease and injury; and 

10 (B) strengthening of the public health sys11 tem of the United States; and 

12 (5) encourages the people of the United States 

13 to learn about the role of the public health system 

14 in improving health in the United States. 

Æ 


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