IV 

110TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 848 

Recognizing and honoring Prevent Blindness America for its 100 years of 

dedication to preventing blindness and preserving eyesight. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

DECEMBER 6, 2007 

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY (for herself and Mr. KIRK) submitted the following 

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing and honoring Prevent Blindness America for 

its 100 years of dedication to preventing blindness and 

preserving eyesight. 

Whereas in 1908, the New York State Committee on Prevention of Blindness, now known as Prevent Blindness 

America, led by Dr. Park Lewis and social and public 

health leader, Louisa Lee Schuyler, fought for and helped 

pass Federal legislation that virtually eliminated ophthalmia neonatorum, then a leading cause of blindness in 

infants; 

Whereas thanks to that effort, newborns around the country 

were protected from lifelong vision loss, and the association that eventually became Prevent Blindness America 

was born; 


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•HRES 848 IH 

Whereas for the past 100 years, Prevent Blindness America 

has been the leading national organization dedicated to 

fighting blindness and saving vision through education, 

advocacy, vision screener certification, research grants 

and community based programs; 

Whereas Prevent Blindness America is the only national organization with a certification programs for vision screeners, training approximately 2,500 new screeners each 

year, and providing 20,000 vision screening personnel 

with the skills they need to help people in their communities; 

Whereas Prevent Blindness America’s vision screenings help 

identify preschoolers at risk of vision loss from lazy eye, 

school children who depend on good vision for learning, 

and adults threatened by glaucoma and other serious vision problems; 

Whereas in 2006, Prevent Blindness America screened more 

than 2,300,000 children and adults for potentially blinding eye diseases, referring more than 200,000 to eye doctors for follow-up professional care; 

Whereas Prevent Blindness America is leading the effort to 

bridge the gap between vision screenings and follow up 

care and treatment, to ensure positive outcomes; 

Whereas half of all blindness can be prevented through early 

detection, intervention, and treatment; 

Whereas the work of Prevent Blindness America is increasingly important, as the incidence of blindness is expected 

to double in the next 20 years with the aging adult population; and 

Whereas Prevent Blindness America has set visionary goals 

for the year 2020 to address these issues by working to 


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•HRES 848 IH 

ensure that every child receives appropriate eye care prior 

to entering school, to double the number of adults, especially adults over 40, visiting the eye doctor, and to reduce eye injuries: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) recognizes the invaluable contributions and 

3 positive impact of Prevent Blindness America, and 

4 its affiliates and divisions, to individuals in commu5 nities and to all Americans; and 

6 (2) congratulates and commends Prevent Blind7 ness America for 100 years of preventing blindness 

8 and preserving sight. 

Æ 


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