[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Con. Res. 11 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
107th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. CON. RES. 11
Expressing the sense of Congress to fully use the powers of the Federal
Government to enhance the science base required to more fully develop
the field of health promotion and disease prevention, and to explore
how strategies can be developed to integrate lifestyle improvement
programs into national policy, our health care system, schools,
workplaces, families and communities.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 14, 2001
Mrs. Feinstein (for herself, Mr. Craig, Mr. Bingaman, Mr. Crapo, Mr.
Lugar, Mr. Warner, Mr. Dorgan, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Biden, Mr. Inhofe, Mr.
Ensign, Mr. Feingold, and Mr. Levin) submitted the following concurrent
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education,
Labor, and Pensions
_______________________________________________________________________
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of Congress to fully use the powers of the Federal
Government to enhance the science base required to more fully develop
the field of health promotion and disease prevention, and to explore
how strategies can be developed to integrate lifestyle improvement
programs into national policy, our health care system, schools,
workplaces, families and communities.
Whereas the New England Journal of Medicine has reported that modifiable
lifestyle factors such as smoking, sedentary lifestyle, poor nutrition,
unmanaged stress, and obesity account for approximately 50 percent of
the premature deaths in the United States;
Whereas the New England Journal of Medicine has reported that spending on
chronic diseases related to lifestyle and other preventable diseases
accounts for an estimated 70 percent of total health care spending;
Whereas preventing disease and disability can extend life and reduce the need
for health care services;
Whereas the Department of Health and Human Services has concluded that the
health burden of these behaviors falls in greatest proportion on older
adults, young children, racial and ethnic minority groups and citizens
who have the least resources;
Whereas business leaders of America have asserted that spending for health care
can divert private sector resources from investments that could produce
greater financial returns and higher wages paid to employees;
Whereas the Office of Management and Budget reports that the medicaid and
medicare expenditures continue to grow;
Whereas the American Journal of Public Health reports that expenditures for the
medicare program will increase substantially as the population ages and
increasing numbers of people are covered by medicare;
Whereas the American Journal of Health Promotion reports that a growing research
base demonstrates that lifestyle factors can be modified to improve
health, improve the quality of life, reduce medical care costs, and
enhance workplace productivity through health promotion programs;
Whereas the Health Care Financing Administration has determined that less than 5
percent of health care spending is devoted to the whole area of public
health, and a very small portion of that 5 percent is devoted to health
promotion and disease prevention;
Whereas research in the basic and applied science of health promotion can yield
a better understanding of health and disease prevention;
Whereas additional research can clarify the impact of health promotion programs
on long term health behaviors, health conditions, morbidity and
mortality, medical care utilization and cost, as well as quality of life
and productivity;
Whereas the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Science has
concluded that additional research is required to determine the most
effective strategies to create lasting health behavior changes, reduce
health care utilization, and enhanced productivity;
Whereas the private sector and academia cannot sponsor broad public health
promotion, disease prevention, and research programs;
Whereas the full benefits of health promotion cannot be realized--
(1) unless strategies are developed to reach all groups including
older adults, young children, and minority groups;
(2) until a more professional consensus on the management of health
and clinical protocols is developed;
(3) until protocols are more broadly disseminated to scientists and
practitioners in health care, workplace, school, and other community
settings; and
(4) until the merits of health promotion programs are disseminated
to policy makers;
Whereas investments in health promotion can contribute to reducing health
disparities; and
Whereas Research America reports that most American citizens strongly support
increased Federal investment in health promotion and disease prevention:
Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring),
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This resolution may be cited as the ``Building Health Promotion and
Disease Prevention into the National Agenda Resolution of 2001''.
SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
It is the sense of Congress that the Federal Government should--
(1) increase resources to enhance the science base required
to further develop the field of health promotion and disease
prevention; and
(2) explore strategies to integrate life-style improvement
programs into national policy, health care, schools,
workplaces, families, and communities in order to promote
health and prevent disease.
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