IV 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 342 
Recognizing the essential contributions of frontline health workers to strength-
ening the United States national security and economic prosperity, sus-
taining and expanding progress on global health, and saving the lives 
of millions of women, men, and children around the world. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 18, 2017 
Mrs. LOWEY (for herself and Mr. DIAZ-BALART) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 
RESOLUTION 
Recognizing the essential contributions of frontline health 
workers to strengthening the United States national se-
curity and economic prosperity, sustaining and expanding 
progress on global health, and saving the lives of millions 
of women, men, and children around the world. 
Whereas the number of people affected by humanitarian cri-
ses nearly doubled from 2004 to 2014 due to an increase 
in the number of natural disasters, public health emer-
gencies, and armed conflicts around the world; 
Whereas frontline health workers are a critical and cost-effec-
tive component to building country capacity to prevent 
and respond to humanitarian crises; 
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•HRES 342 IH 
Whereas nations with healthy populations are more likely to 
be productive, prosperous, and peaceful, while countries 
with poorer health are more prone to instability, conflict, 
and extremism; 
Whereas the United Nations Secretary-General’s High-Level 
Commission on Health Employment and Economic 
Growth found that health employment is a force-multi-
plier for inclusive economic growth, and health invest-
ments provide a nine-fold economic return; 
Whereas frontline health workers are particularly crucial dur-
ing natural or complex emergency situations to saving 
lives and aiding communities to recover, rebuild, and be-
come more resilient; 
Whereas health workers provide lifesaving care at great per-
sonal risk in conflict settings; and hundreds of docu-
mented deliberate attacks on medical facilities, health 
workers, and patients occurred in at least 23 countries 
undergoing conflict and civil unrest, including Syria, Af-
ghanistan, Yemen, and others in 2016, impeding access 
to health care for millions while exacerbating the refugee 
crisis; 
Whereas United States leadership and investment has led to 
dramatic successes in global health and corresponding 
improvements in productivity and economic growth, in-
cluding the reduction of child mortality by 53 percent 
and of maternal mortality by 44 percent from 1990 to 
2015, and the reduction of new HIV infections by 35 
percent and the decrease in malaria mortality by 60 per-
cent from 2000 to 2015; 
Whereas access to a well-trained, well-equipped, and well-sup-
ported frontline health workforce is critical to the efficacy 
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•HRES 342 IH 
and sustainability of United States global health pro-
grams, including efforts to achieve the global goals of 
ending preventable child and maternal deaths, fostering 
an AIDS-free generation, and ensuring global health se-
curity; 
Whereas frontline health workers are the first, and often 
only, link to health care for millions of people living in 
low- and middle-income countries and provide services 
where they are most needed, especially in remote and 
rural areas; 
Whereas frontline health workers include a range of occupa-
tions such as community health workers, midwives, 
nurses, pharmacists, doctors, and surgeons; 
Whereas partnerships with faith-based organizations, human-
itarian nongovernmental organizations, and the private 
sector in training, equipping, and deploying frontline 
health workers in decent work help countries achieve 
progress toward their global health goals; 
Whereas the World Health Organization reports that the 
world will face a shortfall of 18 million health workers by 
2030 without immediate and concerted action, particu-
larly in low- and middle-income countries, many of which 
are in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia, regions that have 
the greatest share of the global disease burden and the 
highest number of preventable deaths, and from which 
many emerging and re-emerging global health threats 
originate; 
Whereas despite the key role of frontline health workers in 
improving health, advancing peace and security, and 
spurring economic growth, the World Bank and the 
World 
Health 
Organization 
estimate 
that 
over 
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•HRES 342 IH 
400,000,000 people worldwide lack access to essential 
health services; 
Whereas the Commission on Health Employment and Eco-
nomic Growth found that employment of women within 
the health workforce is critical to saving lives, spurring 
inclusive economic growth, and promoting women’s em-
powerment, as women comprise an estimated 70 percent 
of employment in the health and social sectors, compared 
with 40 percent across all sectors; 
Whereas every day, more than 16,000 children die worldwide, 
mostly from preventable causes, and 830 women die due 
to pregnancy and childbirth complications; 
Whereas every year, millions of adults succumb to the rav-
ages of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and other treatable 
and often preventable chronic conditions; and 
Whereas the United States does not currently have a com-
prehensive global health workforce strategy despite the 
importance of frontline health workers to the successful 
implementation of United States global health programs 
and to improved health and socioeconomic outcomes for 
those served by these programs: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) reaffirms the critical role of frontline health 
workers in achieving core global health goals, includ-
ing ending preventable child and maternal deaths, 
ensuring global health security, and achieving an 
AIDS-free generation; 
(2) commends the progress made by the United 
States in helping to build local capacity and to save 
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