Title: A resolution supporting the goals and ideals of National Public Health Week.
Policy area: Health

Summary:
This resolution expresses support for National Public Health week, recognizes the efforts of public health professionals, and encourages strengthening the public health system.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 300 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 300

    Supporting the goals and ideals of National Public Health Week.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             July 31, 2019

  Mr. Udall (for himself, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Heinrich, Mr. Cardin, Mr. 
   Brown, Mr. Markey, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. King, Mr. Blumenthal, Ms. 
Hassan, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. Van Hollen, and Ms. Klobuchar) submitted the 
        following resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
    Supporting the goals and ideals of National Public Health Week.

Whereas the week of April 1, 2019, through April 7, 2019, is National Public 
        Health Week;
Whereas the theme for National Public Health Week in 2019 is ``Creating the 
        Healthiest Nation: For science. For action. For health.'';
Whereas the goal of National Public Health Week in 2019 is to recognize the 
        contributions of public health to--

    (1) improving the health of the people of the United States; and

    (2) achieving health equity;

Whereas, in 2017, the life expectancy for the United States population declined 
        for the third year in a row, and some of the leading causes of death are 
        among the most common, costly, and preventable of all health problems;
Whereas there is a significant difference in the health status of people living 
        in the healthiest States compared to people living in the least healthy 
        States, including differences in obesity rates, the prevalence of 
        chronic disease, and the prevalence of infectious disease;
Whereas, despite significant progress in reducing the infant mortality rate in 
        the United States to a historic low of 5.8 infant deaths per 1,000 live 
        births in 2017, the number of infant deaths in the United States greatly 
        varies among States;
Whereas women die from pregnancy-related deaths in the United States at a higher 
        rate than in many other developed countries, and an estimated 60 percent 
        of maternal deaths are preventable;
Whereas poisoning, including drug overdose, has become the leading cause of 
        accidental death in the United States, with the number of drug overdoses 
        more than tripling between 1999 and 2016;
Whereas, on average, 130 people in the United States die every day from an 
        opioid overdose;
Whereas the smoking of cigarettes is the leading cause of preventable disease 
        and death in the United States, accounting for more than 480,000 deaths 
        every year, including more than 41,000 deaths resulting from secondhand 
        smoke;
Whereas the percentage of adults in the United States who smoke cigarettes has 
        decreased from 20.9 percent of the population in 2005 to 14 percent of 
        the population in 2017;
Whereas, according to data from the National Youth Tobacco Survey, between 2017 
        and 2018, current electronic cigarette use by students in the United 
        States increased by 78 percent among high school students and by 48 
        percent among middle school students;
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 prevention can result 
        in significant savings in health care costs;
Whereas vaccination is 1 of the most significant public health achievements in 
        history and has resulted in substantial decreases in--

    (1) the number of cases, hospitalizations, and deaths associated with 
vaccine-preventable diseases; and

    (2) the amount of health care costs associated with vaccine-preventable 
diseases;

Whereas each 10 percent increase in local public health spending contributes 
        to--

    (1) a 6.9 percent decrease in infant deaths;

    (2) a 3.2 percent decrease in deaths related to cardiovascular disease;

    (3) a 1.4 percent decrease in deaths due to diabetes; and

    (4) a 1.1 percent decrease in cancer-related deaths;

Whereas public health professionals help communities prevent, prepare for, 
        withstand, and recover from the impact of a full range of health 
        threats, including--

    (1) disease outbreaks, such as the Zika virus and measles;

    (2) natural disasters; and

    (3) disasters caused by human activity;

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 the prevention of 
        disease and injury can continue to transform a health system focused on 
        treating illness into a health system focused on preventing disease and 
        injury and promoting wellness: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) supports the goals and ideals of National Public Health 
        Week;
            (2) recognizes the efforts of public health professionals, 
        the Federal Government, States, Tribes, municipalities, local 
        communities, and individuals in preventing disease and injury;
            (3) recognizes the role of public health in improving the 
        health of individuals in the United States;
            (4) encourages increased efforts and resources to improve 
        the health of people in the United States and make the United 
        States, in 1 generation, the healthiest nation in the world--
                    (A) by providing greater opportunities to improve 
                community health and prevent disease and injury; and
                    (B) by strengthening the public health system in 
                the United States; 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.
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