IV 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 217 
Supporting the goals and ideals of Social Work Month and World Social 
Work Day. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 21, 2017 
Ms. LEE (for herself, Mr. GUTIE´RREZ, Mr. NADLER, Mr. LEWIS of Georgia, 
Mrs. NAPOLITANO, Mr. MEEKS, and Ms. SHEA-PORTER) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Education 
and the Workforce 
RESOLUTION 
Supporting the goals and ideals of Social Work Month and 
World Social Work Day. 
Whereas the primary mission of the social work profession is 
to enhance human well-being and help meet the basic 
needs of all people, especially the most vulnerable in soci-
ety; 
Whereas social work pioneers helped lead the Nation’s strug-
gle for social justice and have helped paved the way for 
positive social change; 
Whereas social workers work in all areas of our society to im-
prove happiness, health and prosperity, including in gov-
ernment, schools, universities, social service agencies, 
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•HRES 217 IH 
communities, the military, and mental health and health 
care facilities; 
Whereas social workers are key employees at the Federal, 
State, and local levels of government and work to expand 
policies and practices that promote equity and social jus-
tice for all people; 
Whereas social work is one of the fastest growing careers in 
the United States, with almost 650,000 members of the 
profession; 
Whereas social workers daily embody this year’s ‘‘National 
Professional Social Work Month’’ theme, ‘‘Social Workers 
Stand Up!’’, and this year’s World Social Work Day on 
March 21, 2017, ‘‘Promoting Community and Environ-
mental Sustainability’’, by working with individuals, orga-
nizations, communities, and the larger society to tackle 
and solve issues that confront them; 
Whereas social workers have pushed for decades to ensure 
equal rights for all, including women, communities of 
color, the LGBT community, people who are disabled, 
and various other ethnic, cultural and religious groups; 
Whereas social workers have continued to advocate for legis-
lation and policies that address racial and ethnic justice, 
including renewal of the Voting Rights Act, the Violence 
Against Women’s Act, the Civil Rights Act, the Afford-
able Care Act, Medicaid, unemployment insurance, work-
place safety, and Social Security benefits; 
Whereas social workers are the largest group of mental 
health care providers in the United States, and work 
daily to help people overcome substance use disorders and 
mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety; 
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Whereas social workers know from experience that poverty 
and trauma can create lifelong social and economic dis-
advantages; 
Whereas social workers know from experience that discrimi-
nation of any kind limits human potential and must be 
eliminated; 
Whereas thousands of child, family, and school social workers 
across the country provide assistance to protect children 
and improve the social and psychological functioning of 
children and their families; 
Whereas social workers help children find loving homes and 
create new families through adoption; 
Whereas social workers in schools work with families and 
schools to foster future generations by ensuring students 
reach their full academic and personal potential; 
Whereas social workers work with older adults and their fam-
ilies to improve their quality of life and ability to live 
independently as long as possible and get access to high- 
quality mental health and health care; 
Whereas veterans and their families need community support 
to ensure successful transitions after service; 
Whereas access to mental health treatment and health care 
services saves millions of lives; 
Whereas research has shown that all people, no matter their 
circumstance, may at some time in their lives, need the 
expertise of a skilled social worker; 
Whereas social workers celebrate the courage, hope, and 
strength of the human spirit throughout their careers; 
and 
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Whereas social workers have helped the United States and 
other nations overcome earthquakes, floods, wars, and 
other disasters by helping survivors get services such as 
food, shelter, and health care, and mental health care to 
address stress and anxiety: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) supports the goals and ideals of Social 
Work Month and World Social Work Day; 
(2) acknowledges the diligent efforts of individ-
uals and groups who promote the importance of so-
cial work and observe Social Work Month and World 
Social Work Day; 
(3) encourages individuals to engage in appro-
priate ceremonies and activities to promote further 
awareness of the life-changing role that social work-
ers play; and 
(4) recognizes with gratitude the contributions 
of the millions of caring individuals who have chosen 
to serve their communities through social work. 
Æ 
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