IV 111th CONGRESS 1st Session H. RES. 789 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES October 1, 2009 Mrs. Biggert submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform RESOLUTION Expressing support for designation of October 2, 2009, as World MRSA Day.

Whereas MRSA is an acronym for methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus, which causes deadly infections in patients in healthcare facilities and within our communities; Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have estimated that hospital-acquired MRSA infections alone killed more than 19,000 United States residents in 2006; Whereas patient and consumer organizations around the globe are lending their voices to the call of world unity in leadership and commitment in preventing and stopping MRSA, which is pandemic and spreading at alarming rates; Whereas leading patient and consumer advocates call upon healthcare officials and leaders to step up and take a more comprehensive approach to eradicate this preventable disease and focus on a broad and pro-active prevention program; and Whereas as an integral part of its multi-faceted program, the MRSA Survivors Network, the first consumer organization in the United States to raise the alarm concerning the MRSA epidemic and other multi-drug resistant healthcare-acquired infections, has announced “World MRSA Day”, which will be held on October 2, 2009, and commemorated each year after on this date; in addition, the month of October will also be designated “World MRSA Awareness Month” in order to call attention to this worldwide epidemic: Now, therefore, be it

That the House of Representatives supports the designation of World MRSA Day.