IV 
110TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 406 
Expressing the sense of Congress that any effort to reengineer the health 
care system in the United States should incorporate sustainable wellness 
programs that address the underlying causal factors associated with 
chronic disease. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 31, 2008 
Mr. LANGEVIN submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 
Expressing the sense of Congress that any effort to reengi-
neer the health care system in the United States should 
incorporate sustainable wellness programs that address 
the underlying causal factors associated with chronic dis-
ease. 
Whereas increases in costs related to providing health care 
for an aging population and the increasing number of 
people with chronic disease create a crisis for the 
healthcare system in the United States; 
Whereas 23,600,000 individuals in the United States have 
been diagnosed with diabetes and 57,000,000 have been 
diagnosed with prediabetes; 
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•HCON 406 IH 
Whereas 70,000,000 individuals in the United States have 
some form of cardiovascular disease, which is responsible 
for nearly 40 percent of all deaths in this country; 
Whereas 64 percent of all individuals in the United States 
are overweight and more than 30 percent are obese; 
Whereas overweight and obese individuals are at increased 
risk for developing many diseases, including cardio-
vascular disease and type 2 diabetes; 
Whereas individuals in the United States are increasingly 
using lifestyle changes, including diet, exercise, smoking 
cessation, and stress reduction, to decrease their risk of 
developing serious healthcare problems and to restore 
health; 
Whereas low-income families face an increased risk of devel-
oping chronic disease and do not have the resources nec-
essary to avoid developing serious health problems related 
to such chronic disease; 
Whereas there is a growing body of evidence that wellness 
programs that promote lifestyle changes can diminish the 
incidence and severity of chronic disease, provide a sub-
stantial return on investment, and reduce reliance on the 
conventional medical care system; and 
Whereas the Federal Government has a responsibility to re-
engineer the Nation’s healthcare system to allow for the 
provision of adequate healthcare for future generations: 
Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), that Congress should ensure that any re-
engineering of the healthcare system in the United 
States— 
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•HCON 406 IH 
(1) incorporates sustainable wellness programs 
that address the underlying causal factors associated 
with chronic disease; 
(2) ensures that the public has access to strate-
gies for improving individual health through lifestyle 
change, including strategies relating to diet, exercise, 
smoking cessation, and stress reduction; 
(3) provides patient-centered care— 
(A) that addresses personal health needs; 
and 
(B) that uses a multidimensional approach 
to encourage patients to improve their own 
wellness through lifestyle changes and the use 
of scientifically-based therapies that facilitate 
the inherent ability of the human body to main-
tain and restore optimal health; and 
(4) utilizes clearly defined standards to deter-
mine when the implementation of wellness and 
health promotion activities will be useful for each 
patient based on the diet, exercise habits, individual 
health history, and family health history of the pa-
tient. 
Æ 
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