[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 709 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 709

  Supporting the goals and ideals of National Immunization Awareness 
       Month to raise awareness of the benefits of immunization.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 31, 2009

  Ms. Castor of Florida (for herself, Mr. Burgess, Mr. Gene Green of 
Texas, Mr. McGovern, Ms. Bordallo, Mr. Gonzalez, Ms. Norton, Mr. Massa, 
 Mr. Kirk, Ms. Roybal-Allard, Mr. Sestak, Mr. Rush, Mrs. Christensen, 
   Mr. Grijalva, Mr. Boswell, Ms. McCollum, Mr. Moore of Kansas, Mr. 
   Hinojosa, Ms. DeLauro, Mr. Towns, Ms. Schakowsky, Ms. Clarke, Mr. 
   Sarbanes, Mr. Davis of Illinois, and Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson of 
 Texas) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                    Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Supporting the goals and ideals of National Immunization Awareness 
       Month to raise awareness of the benefits of immunization.

Whereas immunization is one of the most significant public health achievements 
        of the 20th century;
Whereas the United States has eradicated smallpox and polio and seen the 
        incidence of measles, pertussis, and diphtheria fall by more than 98 
        percent since the discovery of vaccinations;
Whereas vaccines are available for hepatitis A, hepatitis B, influenza, 
        diptheria, cervical cancer (HPV), measles, meningococcal, mumps, 
        pertussis, pneumococcal disease, polio, rabies, shingles, smallpox, 
        tetanus, tuberculosis, typhoid fever, varicella, yellow fever, and 
        several other diseases;
Whereas 1.7 million children die throughout the world annually from diseases 
        that could have been prevented with readily available vaccinations;
Whereas only 77 percent of children in the United States have received all of 
        the recommended vaccinations;
Whereas 50,000 adults die in the United States annually from diseases that could 
        have been prevented with readily available vaccinations;
Whereas pneumonia and influenza are the 5th leading cause of death among adults 
        over the age of 65;
Whereas less than 70 percent of adults over the age of 65 are vaccinated for 
        both pneumococcal and influenza;
Whereas August is the ideal month for children to receive immunizations before 
        school begins; and
Whereas the month of August would be an appropriate month to designate as 
        National Immunization Awareness Month: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports the goals and ideals of National Immunization 
        Awareness Month;
            (2) encourages local communities to raise awareness 
        surrounding the benefits of immunization;
            (3) encourages individuals to receive recommended 
        immunizations;
            (4) recognizes and salutes health care professionals and 
        researchers that have facilitated the success of immunizations 
        in eradicating and drastically decreasing the incidence of 
        several diseases; and
            (5) recognizes and reaffirms the Nation's commitment to 
        continued education surrounding immunization and to furthering 
        every available opportunity for the immunization of children, 
        adults and senior citizens.
                                 <all>