[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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