Title: Expressing support for the physician assistant (PA) profession and the designation of the week of October 6 through 12, 2017, as "National PA Week".
Policy area: Health

Summary:
Encourages Congress to develop and implement policies supporting and improving the education, training, professional development, research, and lives of physician assistants (PAs), and supports the designation of National PA Week to raise awareness, visibility, and appreciation for the PA profession.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 567 Introduced in House (IH)]

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115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 567

Expressing support for the physician assistant (PA) profession and the 
designation of the week of October 6 through 12, 2017, as ``National PA 
                                Week''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 11, 2017

   Ms. Bass (for herself, Mr. Grijalva, and Mr. Evans) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and 
                                Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Expressing support for the physician assistant (PA) profession and the 
designation of the week of October 6 through 12, 2017, as ``National PA 
                                Week''.

Whereas physician assistants (PAs) mark 50 years as a profession in 2017;
Whereas quality, affordable, and accessible patient-centered health care 
        provided by PAs contributes to the well-being and quality of life of all 
        patients;
Whereas PAs are often the first point of contact for many patients and play a 
        vital role in helping them understand their medical needs and empower 
        them to become effective advocates for their own health;
Whereas PAs are academically and clinically prepared to practice medicine in all 
        settings and specialties, including the diagnosis and treatment of 
        disease, assisting at surgery, and prescribing medications;
Whereas, as valuable members of the medical team, PAs practice medicine to 
        enhance the delivery of high-quality health care for patients, often in 
        medically underserved and rural areas;
Whereas there are more than 115,500 PAs nationwide who interact with patients 
        upwards of 350 million times annually;
Whereas, between 2011 and 2014, the demand for PAs increased more than 300 
        percent;
Whereas PAs have earned the respect of the general public for their dedication 
        and contributions to people's lives and for working as members of the 
        health care team to ensure delivery of more effective and efficient 
        health care services;
Whereas, for the next 50 years and beyond, PAs will continue working within the 
        health care team to make our health care system more effective, more 
        efficient, and more accessible, while providing increased quality to 
        patients; and
Whereas the House of Representatives wishes to honor the contributions of PAs to 
        our health care system and to the lives of patients and families across 
        the United States and territories: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports the designation of ``National PA Week'' to 
        raise awareness, visibility, and appreciation of the physician 
        assistant profession;
            (2) supports its goals and ideals as founded by the 
        American Academy of Physician Assistants; and
            (3) encourages Congress to develop and implement policies 
        that support and improve the education, training, professional 
        development, research, and lives of PAs.
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