III 118th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 125 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 27, 2023 Ms. Stabenow (for herself and Ms. Sinema ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions RESOLUTION Supporting the goals and ideals of Social Work Month and World Social Work Day on March 21, 2023.

Whereas social workers enter the profession of social work because they have a strong desire to help empower the individuals, families, and communities of the United States to overcome issues that prevent them from reaching their full potential; Whereas, for more than a century, social workers have improved human health and well-being and enhanced the basic needs of all individuals; Whereas social workers follow a code of ethics that calls on them to fight social injustice and respect the dignity and worth of all individuals; Whereas, each day, social workers positively touch the lives of millions of individuals in the United States in an array of settings, including schools, hospitals, the military, child welfare agencies, community centers, and Federal, State, and local governments; Whereas the 2023 Social Work Month theme, Social Work Breaks Barriers , embodies how social workers help empower the individuals, families, and communities of the United States to overcome hurdles that prevent them from achieving better health and well-being; Whereas social workers are one of the largest providers of mental health, behavioral health, and social care services in the United States, working daily to help thousands of individuals in the United States overcome mental illnesses, such as depression and anxiety, and meet basic needs; Whereas social workers are on the frontlines of the addiction crisis in the United States, helping individuals get necessary treatment and prevail over substance use disorders; Whereas social workers help individuals cope with death and grief; Whereas social workers help people and communities recover from natural disasters that are increasingly fueled by a warming climate, including hurricanes, drought, and flooding; Whereas social workers continue to help the United States live up to its values by advocating for equal rights for all, including people of color, people who are indigenous, people who are LBGTQIA2S+, and people who follow various faiths; Whereas the social work profession is one of the fastest growing professions in the United States, but the workforce is still not large enough to meet the demand; Whereas there is a need to make a meaningful investment in recruitment and retention within the social work profession; Whereas social workers serve in all levels of government; Whereas social workers have continued to push for changes that have made the United States a better place to live, including a livable wage, improved workplace safety, and social safety net programs that help ameliorate poverty, hunger, and homelessness; and Whereas social workers endeavor to work throughout society to meet individuals where they are and help empower those individuals and society to reach meaningful goals: Now, therefore, be it

That the Senate— (1) supports the goals and ideals of Social Work Month and World Social Work Day on March 21, 2023; (2) recognizes with gratitude the contributions of the millions of social workers who have advanced the health and well-being of individuals, families, communities, and the United States since the founding of the social work profession more than a century ago and who continue to do so today; (3) acknowledges the diligent efforts of the individuals and groups who promote the importance of social work and observe Social Work Month and World Social Work Day; and (4) encourages individuals to engage in appropriate ceremonies and activities to promote further awareness of the life-changing role that social workers play.