[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 640 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 640

 Expressing the sense of the Senate that there should be an increased 
Federal commitment to public health and the prevention of diseases and 
             injuries for all people in the United States.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             July 31, 2008

   Mr. Cardin (for himself and Mrs. Clinton) submitted the following 
 resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, 
                          Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing the sense of the Senate that there should be an increased 
Federal commitment to public health and the prevention of diseases and 
             injuries for all people in the United States.

Whereas the United States has the highest rate of preventable deaths among 19 
        industrialized countries and lags behind 28 other members of the United 
        Nations in life expectancy;
Whereas various research studies suggest that nearly 60 percent of premature 
        deaths in the United States are attributable to environmental 
        conditions, social circumstances, or behavioral choices that could be 
        prevented;
Whereas more money is spent each year on health care in the United States than 
        in any other country in the world;
Whereas, of the more than $2,200,000,000,000 spent on health care in the United 
        States each year, less than 4 cents out of every dollar are spent on 
        improving public health and preventing diseases and injuries;
Whereas chronic diseases are the leading cause of preventable death and 
        disability in the United States, accounting for 7 out of every 10 deaths 
        and killing more than 1,700,000 people in the United States each year;
Whereas those often preventable chronic diseases account for approximately 75 
        percent of health care spending in the United States each year, 
        including more than 96 cents out of every dollar spent under the 
        Medicare program and more than 83 cents out of every dollar spent under 
        the Medicaid program;
Whereas those chronic diseases cost the United States an additional 
        $1,000,000,000,000 each year in lost productivity and are a major 
        contributing factor to the overall poor health that is placing the 
        Nation's economic security and competitiveness in jeopardy;
Whereas the number of people with chronic diseases is rapidly increasing, and it 
        is estimated that by 2050 nearly half of the population of the United 
        States will suffer from at least one chronic disease if action is not 
        taken;
Whereas the use of clinically-based preventive services has been demonstrated to 
        prevent or result in early detection of cancer and other diseases, save 
        lives, and reduce overall health care costs; and
Whereas research has shown that investing in community-level interventions that 
        promote and enable proper nutrition, increased access to physical 
        activity, and smoking cessation programs can prevent or mitigate chronic 
        diseases, improve quality of life, increase economic productivity, and 
        reduce health care costs: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) recognizes that, in order to reduce the disease burden 
        and health care costs associated with preventable diseases and 
        injuries, it is imperative that the United States strengthen 
        its public health system--
                    (A) to provide all people in the United States with 
                the information, resources, and environment necessary 
                to make healthier choices and live healthier lives; and
                    (B) to protect all people in the United States from 
                health threats beyond their control, such as 
                bioterrorism, natural disasters, infectious disease 
                outbreaks, and environmental hazards;
            (2) commits to creating public health strategies to 
        eliminate health disparities and improve the health of all 
        people in the United States, regardless of race, ethnicity, or 
        socioeconomic status;
            (3) supports the prioritizing of public policies focusing 
        on the prevention of disease and injury;
            (4) calls for community-based programs to support healthy 
        lifestyles, including programs that promote proper nutrition 
        and increased access to physical activity;
            (5) urges the expansion of clinical preventive activities, 
        including screenings and immunizations; and
            (6) pledges to help significantly improve the health of all 
        people in the United States by supporting increased investment 
        in Federal public health programs.
                                 <all>