Title: Supporting the goals and ideals of the "International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife", as designated by the World Health Organization.
Policy area: Health

Summary:
This resolution supports the goals of and encourages people to observe the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife, as designated by the World Health Organization. It also recognizes the contributions of nurses and midwives to the U.S. health care system.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 859 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 859

  Supporting the goals and ideals of the ``International Year of the 
      Nurse and the Midwife'', as designated by the World Health 
                             Organization.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           February 13, 2020

Ms. Johnson of Texas (for herself, Mr. Joyce of Ohio, Ms. Gabbard, Ms. 
Bonamici, Mr. Rodney Davis of Illinois, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Mr. Carson of 
 Indiana, Ms. Shalala, Mr. McKinley, Ms. Underwood, Ms. Roybal-Allard, 
  Ms. Wild, Mrs. Beatty, Mr. Cooper, Mr. Thompson of Mississippi, Mr. 
Cleaver, and Ms. Wilson of Florida) submitted the following resolution; 
       which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Supporting the goals and ideals of the ``International Year of the 
      Nurse and the Midwife'', as designated by the World Health 
                             Organization.

Whereas the World Health Organization has designated 2020 as the ``International 
        Year of the Nurse and the Midwife'';
Whereas 2020--

    (1) marks the 200th birthday of Florence Nightingale, the founder of 
modern nursing; and

    (2) is an appropriate time to reflect on the important contributions 
that nurses and midwives make to provide safe, high-quality health care in 
all settings across the United States;

Whereas, with an estimated population of more than 4,000,000 registered nurses 
        in the United States and 20,700,000 registered nurses worldwide, nurses 
        and midwives--

    (1) represent nearly 50 percent of the global health workforce; and

    (2) are the largest single component of the health care professions;

Whereas investing in nurses and midwives provides great value to communities;
Whereas a report of the High-Level Commission on Health Employment and Economic 
        Growth of the United Nations concluded that ``investments in education 
        and job creation in the health and social sectors result in a triple 
        return of improved health outcomes, global health security, and 
        inclusive economic growth'';
Whereas nurses and midwives have contributed to major global health 
        achievements, including--

    (1) the eradication of smallpox; and

    (2) the dramatic reductions in maternal and child mortality that have 
occurred in many countries;

Whereas, for the 18th consecutive year, nurses ranked first in the annual Most 
        Honest and Ethical Professions Poll conducted by Gallup;
Whereas that poll found that 85 percent of the people of the United States rate 
        the honesty and ethical standards of nurses as high or very high;
Whereas nurses and midwives are known to be patient advocates, acting to protect 
        the lives of the individuals under their care;
Whereas nurses and midwives--

    (1) care for patients and families in every stage of life;

    (2) are invaluable members of the health care team; and

    (3) are leading in the delivery of quality care in a transformed health 
care system that improves patient outcomes and safety;

Whereas better integration of the model of care used by nurses and midwives into 
        health care systems is fundamental to reducing primary and maternity 
        care provider shortages and improving maternal health outcomes;
Whereas nurses and midwives are well-positioned to provide leadership to 
        eliminate the health care disparities that exist in the United States, 
        including the maternal health crisis;
Whereas the Future of Nursing report of the Institute of Medicine has called for 
        the nursing profession to meet the call for leadership in a team-based 
        delivery model;
Whereas nurses are experienced researchers, and the work of nurses encompasses a 
        wide scope of scientific inquiry, including clinical research, health 
        systems and outcomes research, and nursing education research;
Whereas nurses provide culturally and ethnically competent care that is 
        sensitive to the regional and community customs of individuals needing 
        care;
Whereas nurses are the cornerstone of the public health infrastructure, 
        promoting healthy lifestyles and educating communities on disease 
        prevention and health promotion; and
Whereas nurses help, inform, educate, and work closely with legislators to 
        improve--

    (1) the education, retention, recruitment, and practice of all nurses; 
and

    (2) the health and safety of the patients for whom the nurses care in 
all communities, including rural and underserved communities: Now, 
therefore, be it

    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports the goals and ideals of the ``International 
        Year of the Nurse and the Midwife'', as designated by the World 
        Health Organization;
            (2) recognizes the significant contributions of nurses and 
        midwives to the health care system in the United States; and
            (3) encourages the people of the United States to observe 
        the Year of the Nurse and the Midwife with appropriate 
        recognition, ceremonies, activities, and programs to 
        demonstrate the importance of nurses and midwives to the 
        everyday lives of patients.
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