IV 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. RES. 859 
Supporting the goals and ideals of the ‘‘International Year of the Nurse 
and the Midwife’’, as designated by the World Health Organization. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 13, 2020 
Ms. JOHNSON of Texas (for herself, Mr. JOYCE of Ohio, Ms. GABBARD, Ms. 
BONAMICI, Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois, Mr. FITZPATRICK, Mr. CAR-
SON of Indiana, Ms. SHALALA, Mr. MCKINLEY, Ms. UNDERWOOD, Ms. 
ROYBAL-ALLARD, Ms. WILD, Mrs. BEATTY, Mr. COOPER, Mr. THOMP-
SON of Mississippi, Mr. CLEAVER, and Ms. WILSON of Florida) submitted 
the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy 
and Commerce 
RESOLUTION 
Supporting the goals and ideals of the ‘‘International Year 
of the Nurse and the Midwife’’, as designated by the 
World Health Organization. 
Whereas the World Health Organization has designated 2020 
as the ‘‘International Year of the Nurse and the Mid-
wife’’; 
Whereas 2020— 
(1) marks the 200th birthday of Florence Nightin-
gale, the founder of modern nursing; and 
(2) is an appropriate time to reflect on the impor-
tant contributions that nurses and midwives make to pro-
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•HRES 859 IH 
vide safe, high-quality health care in all settings across 
the United States; 
Whereas, with an estimated population of more than 
4,000,000 registered nurses in the United States and 
20,700,000 registered nurses worldwide, nurses and mid-
wives— 
(1) represent nearly 50 percent of the global health 
workforce; and 
(2) are the largest single component of the health 
care professions; 
Whereas investing in nurses and midwives provides great 
value to communities; 
Whereas a report of the High-Level Commission on Health 
Employment and Economic Growth of the United Na-
tions concluded that ‘‘investments in education and job 
creation in the health and social sectors result in a triple 
return of improved health outcomes, global health secu-
rity, and inclusive economic growth’’; 
Whereas nurses and midwives have contributed to major 
global health achievements, including— 
(1) the eradication of smallpox; and 
(2) the dramatic reductions in maternal and child 
mortality that have occurred in many countries; 
Whereas, for the 18th consecutive year, nurses ranked first 
in the annual Most Honest and Ethical Professions Poll 
conducted by Gallup; 
Whereas that poll found that 85 percent of the people of the 
United States rate the honesty and ethical standards of 
nurses as high or very high; 
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•HRES 859 IH 
Whereas nurses and midwives are known to be patient advo-
cates, acting to protect the lives of the individuals under 
their care; 
Whereas nurses and midwives— 
(1) care for patients and families in every stage of 
life; 
(2) are invaluable members of the health care team; 
and 
(3) are leading in the delivery of quality care in a 
transformed health care system that improves patient 
outcomes and safety; 
Whereas better integration of the model of care used by 
nurses and midwives into health care systems is funda-
mental to reducing primary and maternity care provider 
shortages and improving maternal health outcomes; 
Whereas nurses and midwives are well-positioned to provide 
leadership to eliminate the health care disparities that 
exist in the United States, including the maternal health 
crisis; 
Whereas the Future of Nursing report of the Institute of 
Medicine has called for the nursing profession to meet 
the call for leadership in a team-based delivery model; 
Whereas nurses are experienced researchers, and the work of 
nurses encompasses a wide scope of scientific inquiry, in-
cluding clinical research, health systems and outcomes re-
search, and nursing education research; 
Whereas nurses provide culturally and ethnically competent 
care that is sensitive to the regional and community cus-
toms of individuals needing care; 
Whereas nurses are the cornerstone of the public health in-
frastructure, promoting healthy lifestyles and educating 
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communities on disease prevention and health promotion; 
and 
Whereas nurses help, inform, educate, and work closely with 
legislators to improve— 
(1) the education, retention, recruitment, and prac-
tice of all nurses; and 
(2) the health and safety of the patients for whom 
the nurses care in all communities, including rural and 
underserved communities: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) supports the goals and ideals of the ‘‘Inter-
national Year of the Nurse and the Midwife’’, as 
designated by the World Health Organization; 
(2) recognizes the significant contributions of 
nurses and midwives to the health care system in the 
United States; and 
(3) encourages the people of the United States 
to observe the Year of the Nurse and the Midwife 
with appropriate recognition, ceremonies, activities, 
and programs to demonstrate the importance of 
nurses and midwives to the everyday lives of pa-
tients. 
Æ 
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