IV 
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 187 
Supporting the goals and ideals of National Public Health Week. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 26, 2015 
Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD (for herself, Ms. LEE, Ms. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM 
of New Mexico, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. VELA, and Mr. HASTINGS) sub-
mitted 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 6, 2015, through April 12, 2015, 
is National Public Health Week; 
Whereas the theme for National Public Health Week in 2015 
is ‘‘Healthiest Nation 2030’’ with the goal of making the 
United States the healthiest nation in one generation; 
Whereas public health organizations use National Public 
Health Week to educate the public, policymakers, and 
public health professionals about issues that are impor-
tant to improving the health of the people of the United 
States; 
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Whereas the value of a strong public health system is in the 
air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat, and 
the places where we all live, learn, work, and play; 
Whereas there is a 16 percent difference in the health status 
of people living in the healthiest States compared to peo-
ple living in the least healthy States; 
Whereas public health professionals help communities pre-
vent, prepare for, withstand, and recover from the impact 
of a full range of health threats including disease out-
breaks, natural disasters, and disasters caused by human 
activity; 
Whereas public health professionals collaborate with partners 
that are not in the health sector, such as city planners, 
transportation officials, education officials, and private 
sector businesses, recognizing that other sectors have an 
important influence on health; 
Whereas according to the Institute of Medicine, despite being 
one of the wealthiest nations in the world, the United 
States ranks below many other economically prosperous 
and developing countries with respect to many indicators 
for healthy life, including life expectancy, infant mortality 
rates, low birth weight rates, and the rate of drug-related 
deaths; 
Whereas studies show that small strategic investments in pre-
vention can result in significant savings in health care 
costs; 
Whereas each 10 percent increase in local public health 
spending contributes to a 6.9 percent decrease in infant 
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 cancer-related deaths; 
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Whereas in communities across the country, 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; 
Whereas despite having an infant mortality rate that is high-
er than any of its other 27 economically prosperous peer 
countries, the United States has begun to make progress 
with the infant mortality rate declining 12 percent from 
2005 to 2011; 
Whereas in 2013, the percentage of adults smoking in the 
United States decreased from 21.2 percent to 19.6 per-
cent and the percentage of physically inactive adults in 
the United States decreased from 26.2 percent to 22.9 
percent; and 
Whereas efforts to adequately support public health and pre-
vention can continue to transform a health system fo-
cused on treating illness to a health system focused on 
preventing disease and promoting wellness: Now, there-
fore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) supports the goals and ideals of National 
Public Health Week; 
(2) recognizes the efforts of public health pro-
fessionals, the Federal Government, States, Tribes, 
municipalities, local communities, and individuals in 
preventing disease and injury; 
(3) recognizes the role of public health in im-
proving the health of people in the United States; 
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(4) encourages increased efforts and resources 
to improve the health of people in the United States 
to create the healthiest nation in one generation 
through— 
(A) greater opportunities to improve com-
munity health and prevent disease and injury; 
and 
(B) strengthening of the public health sys-
tem of the United States; and 
(5) encourages the people of the United States 
to learn about the role of the public health system 
in improving health in the United States. 
Æ 
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