IV 111th CONGRESS 1st Session H. RES. 932 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

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.