IV 
115TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. RES. 805 
Supporting the goals and ideals of National Public Health Week. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 22, 2018 
Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD (for herself, Mr. WITTMAN, Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas, 
Mr. MCGOVERN, and Ms. GRANGER) submitted 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 2, 2018, through April 8, 2018, 
is National Public Health Week; 
Whereas the theme for National Public Health Week in 2018 
is ‘‘Healthiest Nation 2030: Changing Our Future To-
gether’’, with the goal of making the United States the 
healthiest Nation in one generation; 
Whereas there is a significant difference in the health status 
of individuals with different abilities and demographics, 
such as obesity, poor mental health and infectious dis-
ease, of people living in the healthiest States compared 
to people living in the least healthy States; 
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Whereas according to the National Academy of Medicine, de-
spite being one of the wealthiest nations in the world, the 
United States ranks below many other economically pros-
perous and developing countries with respect to measures 
of health, including life expectancy, infant mortality and 
maternal mortality rates; 
Whereas the life expectancy for the United States population 
declined for the second year in a row, and the leading 
causes of deaths are among the most common, costly, 
and preventable of all health problems; 
Whereas despite having a high infant mortality rate com-
pared to other economically prosperous and developing 
countries, and the death rate varying greatly among 
States, overall, the United States was making steady 
progress, until recently, with the infant mortality rate 
reaching a historic low of 5.8 infant deaths per 1,000 live 
births in 2016; 
Whereas more women die from pregnancy-related deaths in 
the United States than any other developed country, and 
the number of maternal deaths per 100,000 live births 
has increased from 16.9 in 1990 to 26.4 in 2015; 
Whereas the number of overdose deaths involving opioids was 
more than five times higher than in 1999 and 115 Amer-
icans on average die every day from an opioid-involved 
death requiring a comprehensive strategy across a range 
of sectors including robust efforts to prevent substance 
misuse disorders; 
Whereas the percentage of adults using tobacco products in 
the United States, the leading cause of preventable dis-
ease and death in the United States, accounting for more 
than 480,000 deaths every year including more than 
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41,000 deaths resulting from secondhand smoke, de-
creased from 20.9 percent in 2005 to 15.5 percent in 
2016; 
Whereas the number of adults suffering from homelessness in 
the United States, an increase seen in 2017 since 2010, 
accounting for approximately 554,000, with 35 percent of 
individuals and people in families still living unsheltered; 
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, worship, and 
play; 
Whereas public health organizations use National Public 
Health Week to educate the public, policymakers, and 
public health professionals on issues that are important 
to improving the health of the people of the United 
States; 
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 deaths related to car-
diovascular disease, a 1.4 percent decrease in deaths due 
to diabetes, and a 1.1 percent decrease in cancer-related 
deaths; 
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 such as the Zika virus, natural disasters, and dis-
asters caused by human activity; 
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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 in communities across the United States, 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; 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, injury, and promoting quality of 
life; 
(3) recognizes the role of public health in im-
proving the health of individuals in the United 
States; 
(4) encourages increased efforts and resources 
to improve the health of people in the United States 
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to create the healthiest Nation in one generation 
through— 
(A) greater opportunities to improve com-
munity health and prevent disease and injury; 
(B) strengthening the public health system 
in the United States; and 
(C) using data to guide policies and behav-
iors that promote health and quality of life; 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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