[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 932 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 932

   Expressing the sense of the Congress that all State public health 
    departments, local public health departments, hospitals, doctor 
 offices, and other health care providers should adhere to guidelines 
issued from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention with regard 
                      to the H1N1 influenza virus.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           November 19, 2009

     Ms. Chu (for herself and Ms. Matsui) submitted the following 
 resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
   Expressing the sense of the Congress that all State public health 
    departments, local public health departments, hospitals, doctor 
 offices, and other health care providers should adhere to guidelines 
issued from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention with regard 
                      to the H1N1 influenza virus.

Whereas, on April 21, 2009, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 
        first reported that 2 children in California had recovered from a unique 
        influenza strain, which contained gene segments from H1N1 viruses;
Whereas on April 26, Charles E. Johnson, then the Acting Secretary of Health and 
        Human Services, declared a public health emergency pursuant to section 
        319 of the Public Health Service Act;
Whereas, on June 11, 2009, in response to the global spread of a new strain of 
        H1N1 influenza, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the 
        outbreak to be an influenza pandemic, the first since 1968;
Whereas in the United States from August 30 though November 7, 2009, there have 
        been 22,364 laboratory-confirmed influenza-associated hospitalizations 
        and 877 laboratory-confirmed influenza-associated deaths reported to the 
        Centers for Disease Control and Prevention;
Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates there have been 
        22,000,000 H1N1 influenza cases between April and October of this year;
Whereas many public health departments, hospitals, and doctors are doing a good 
        job identifying, preventing, and treating cases of H1N1;
Whereas 46 States are reporting widespread influenza activity;
Whereas Monica Rodriguez, a pregnant mother of 3, was not given proper treatment 
        from a hospital in Los Angeles County after 2 visits;
Whereas she had severe flu symptoms including fever, congestion, and cough that 
        had lasted for several days and she was sent away with cough syrup;
Whereas Monica and her husband knew they weren't getting the help they needed 
        and they went to another hospital where she was immediately admitted in 
        intensive care;
Whereas the time that had passed when she wasn't adequately treated was critical 
        to her survival and Monica Rodriguez and her unborn child passed away on 
        October 25th;
Whereas Monica Rodriguez's death might have been prevented had the El Monte 
        hospital strictly followed the guidelines of the Centers for Disease 
        Control and Prevention;
Whereas this resolution is named in honor of Monica Rodriguez who died of the 
        H1N1 influenza virus;
Whereas the standard of care is the responsibility of the health care provider, 
        not the patient;
Whereas children are encouraged to seek medical attention for the flu if they 
        experience fast breathing or trouble breathing; bluish skin color; not 
        drinking enough fluids or stopping urinating; not waking up or not 
        interacting; being so irritable that a child does not want to be held; 
        flu-like symptoms that improve, but then return with fever, cough, or 
        fever with a rash;
Whereas adults are encouraged to seek medical attention for the flu if they 
        experience difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, pain or pressure 
        in the chest or abdomen, sudden dizziness, confusion, or severe or 
        persistent vomiting;
Whereas vaccines are the most important tool we have for preventing influenza;
Whereas the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) of the Centers 
        for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that vaccination efforts 
        should focus first on people in 5 target groups who are at higher risk 
        for 2009 H1N1 influenza or related complications;
Whereas the 5 target groups are pregnant women, people who live with or provide 
        care for infants younger than 6 months, health care and emergency 
        medical services personnel, people 6 months through 24 years of age and 
        people 25 years through 64 years of age who have certain medical 
        conditions that put them at higher risk for influenza-related 
        complications;
Whereas individuals should be encouraged to seek seasonal flu vaccine and there 
        is still time for people to get vaccinated to protect themselves from 
        becoming ill;
Whereas there are many millions of doses yet to be distributed this season;
Whereas 89,000,000 doses, or 77 percent of the total seasonal influenza vaccine 
        doses expected this season have been distributed in the private and 
        public sectors;
Whereas people can find seasonal vaccine distribution information by checking 
        the www.Flu.gov web site that identifies clinics that have influenza 
        vaccine available;
Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is working closely with 
        States to ensure that vaccines get to the public as soon as the vaccines 
        are received, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has 
        worked with its distributors to ensure round-the-clock shipping 
        capabilities and 24 hour turn-around time on distribution; and
Whereas the United States should be investing in shortening the time for 
        development of vaccines as well as increasing the production capacity of 
        vaccines: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is a sense of the House of Representatives that--
            (1) all State public health departments, local public 
        health departments, hospitals, doctor offices, and other health 
        care providers should adhere to guidelines issued from the 
        Centers for Disease Control and Prevention with regard to the 
        H1N1 influenza virus;
            (2) the 5 target groups of pregnant women, including people 
        who live with or provide care for infants younger than 6 
        months, health care and emergency medical services personnel, 
        people 6 months through 24 years of age, and people 25 years 
        through 64 years of age who have certain medical conditions 
        should be encouraged to seek the vaccine and be the first 
        priority for government responses;
            (3) the Federal Government should work closely with States, 
        localities, and hospitals to ensure the vaccine for the H1N1 
        influenza virus is distributed as quickly and efficiently as 
        possible; and
            (4) the Federal Government should study their response to 
        the H1N1 influenza virus pandemic and work to improve the 
        system and processes to enhance its response in the case that 
        the United States faces another pandemic in the future.
                                 <all>