[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 270 Introduced in House (IH)]
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115th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 270
Supporting the goals and ideals of National Public Health Week.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 6, 2017
Ms. Roybal-Allard (for herself, Mr. Wittman, Mr. Gene Green of Texas,
Mr. McGovern, Ms. Granger, Ms. Slaughter, Ms. Michelle Lujan Grisham of
New Mexico, Mr. Hastings, Mrs. Dingell, Ms. Kelly of Illinois, Ms.
Matsui, Ms. Adams, Mrs. Napolitano, Ms. Norton, Mr. Grijalva, Ms.
McCollum, Mr. Raskin, Ms. Moore, Mr. Rutherford, and Ms. Barragan)
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee
on Energy and Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Supporting the goals and ideals of National Public Health Week.
Whereas the week of April 3, 2017, through April 9, 2017, is National Public
Health Week;
Whereas the theme for National Public Health Week in 2017 is ``Healthiest Nation
2030'', with the goal of making the United States the healthiest nation
in one generation;
Whereas according to the National Academy of Medicine, despite being one of the
wealthiest nations in the world, the United States ranks below many
other economically prosperous and developing countries with respect to
measures of health, including life expectancy and the rate of infant
mortality;
Whereas the life expectancy for the United States population declined for the
first time in more than two decades, and the leading causes of deaths
are among the most common, costly, and preventable of all health
problems;
Whereas there is a significant difference in the health status, such as that
relating to obesity, poor mental health, and infectious disease, of
people living in the healthiest States compared to people living in the
least healthy States;
Whereas despite having a high infant mortality rate compared to other
economically prosperous and developing countries, and the death rate
varying greatly among States, overall, the United States was making
steady progress, until recently, with the infant mortality rate reaching
a historic low of 5.8 infant deaths per 1,000 live births in 2014;
Whereas opioid-involved deaths have more than quadrupled since 1999, requiring a
comprehensive strategy across a range of sectors, including robust
efforts to prevent substance misuse disorders;
Whereas the percentage of adults smoking cigarettes in the United States, the
leading cause of preventable disease and death in the United States and
accounting for more than 480,000 deaths each year, decreased from 20.9
percent in 2005 to 15.1 percent in 2015;
Whereas the value of a strong public health system is in the air we breathe, the
water we drink, the food we eat, and the places where we all live,
learn, work, and play;
Whereas public health organizations use National Public Health Week to educate
the public, policymakers, and public health professionals on issues that
are important to improving the health of the people of the United
States;
Whereas studies show that small strategic investments in prevention can result
in significant savings in health care costs;
Whereas each 10 percent increase in local public health spending contributes to
a 6.9 percent decrease in infant deaths, a 3.2 percent decrease in
deaths related to cardiovascular disease, a 1.4 percent decrease in
deaths due to diabetes, and a 1.1 percent decrease in cancer-related
deaths;
Whereas public health professionals help communities prevent, prepare for,
withstand, and recover from the impact of a full range of health
threats, including disease outbreaks, such as the Zika virus, natural
disasters, and disasters caused by human activity;
Whereas public health professionals collaborate with partners outside the health
sector, such as city planners, transportation officials, education
officials, and private sector businesses, recognizing that other sectors
have an important influence on health;
Whereas in communities across the United States, people are changing the way
they care for their health by avoiding tobacco use, eating healthier,
becoming more physically active, and preventing unintentional injuries
at home and in the workplace; and
Whereas efforts to adequately support public health and prevention can continue
to transform a health system focused on treating illness to a health
system focused on preventing disease and promoting wellness: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) supports the goals and ideals of National Public Health
Week;
(2) recognizes the efforts of public health professionals,
the Federal Government, States, tribes, municipalities, local
communities, and individuals in preventing disease and injury;
(3) recognizes the role of public health in improving the
health of individuals in the United States;
(4) encourages increased efforts and resources to improve
the health of individuals in the United States to create the
healthiest nation in one generation through--
(A) greater opportunities to improve community
health and prevent disease and injury; and
(B) strengthening the public health system in the
United States; and
(5) encourages the people of the United States to learn
about the role of the public health system in improving health
in the United States.
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