[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 718 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 718

 Supporting the goals and ideals of National Long-Term Care Residents' 
    Rights Week, recognizing the importance to the United States of 
 residents of long-term care facilities, including senior citizens and 
     individuals living with disabilities, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 9, 2007

 Ms. Schakowsky (for herself, Ms. Baldwin, Ms. Bordallo, Mr. Grijalva, 
  Mr. McNulty, Mr. Upton, Mr. Markey, Mr. Davis of Illinois, Ms. Zoe 
  Lofgren of California, Mr. Matheson, and Mr. Yarmuth) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and 
                                Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Supporting the goals and ideals of National Long-Term Care Residents' 
    Rights Week, recognizing the importance to the United States of 
 residents of long-term care facilities, including senior citizens and 
     individuals living with disabilities, and for other purposes.

Whereas there are nearly 1,700,000 individuals living in 17,000 nursing homes 
        and 1,000,000 individuals living in 46,000 board and care and assisted 
        living facilities in the United States;
Whereas residents of long-term care facilities, including senior citizens and 
        individuals living with disabilities, are one of the United States most 
        valued resources;
Whereas residents of long-term care facilities include the ``Greatest 
        Generation'' of Americans who protected the freedoms of the people of 
        the United States during World War II and helped rebuild the world in 
        the postwar years;
Whereas almost 160,000 people younger than 65 years of age live in nursing homes 
        in the United States;
Whereas the United States should honor and celebrate long-term care residents, 
        recognize their rich individuality, and reaffirm their rights as 
        community members and citizens, including the right to vote;
Whereas subtitle C of title IV of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987 
        (commonly known as the ``Nursing Home Reform Act of 1987'') guaranteed 
        important rights, such as the right to privacy, the right to be treated 
        with dignity, the right to exercise self-determination, the right to 
        participate in the review of one's care plan, the right to be fully 
        informed in advance of any changes in treatment, and the right to voice 
        grievances without discrimination or reprisal;
Whereas long-term care ombudsmen, citizen advocates, facility staff, and family 
        and resident councils work to educate and empower residents in the 
        exercise of their rights;
Whereas the week beginning October 7, 2007, will be celebrated as National Long-
        Term Care Residents' Rights Week with the theme ``Advancing Excellence: 
        A Resident's Perspective on Quality'', to emphasize the importance of 
        affirming those rights through facility practices, public policy, and 
        resident-centered decision-making;
Whereas in recognition of National Long-Term Care Residents' Rights Week, 
        individuals and groups around the country will be affirming the 
        importance of quality of care and quality of life for long-term care 
        residents; and
Whereas National Long-Term Care Residents' Rights Week originated in 1980, with 
        resolutions introduced by Representative Claude Pepper and Senator David 
        Pryor to designate a Nursing Home Residents Day: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports the goals and ideals of National Long-Term 
        Care Residents' Rights Week;
            (2) recognizes the importance to the United States of 
        residents of long-term care facilities, including senior 
        citizens and individuals living with disabilities; and
            (3) encourages the President to issue a proclamation 
        calling upon the people of the United States to observe 
        National Long-Term Care Residents' Rights Week with appropriate 
        ceremonies and activities to demonstrate the importance of 
        long-term care residents to the everyday lives of the people of 
        the United States.
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