[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 124 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 124

   Expressing the sense of Congress that public health professionals 
  should be commended for their dedication and service to the United 
       States on Public Health Thank You Day, November 23, 2020.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           November 19, 2020

   Mr. Wittman (for himself, Ms. Roybal-Allard, Mr. Simpson, and Mr. 
  McGovern) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
            referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
   Expressing the sense of Congress that public health professionals 
  should be commended for their dedication and service to the United 
       States on Public Health Thank You Day, November 23, 2020.

Whereas the health, security, and well-being of all people in the United States 
        is essential to a functioning democracy and strong economy;
Whereas public health research and practice advances each of these integral 
        attributes of a thriving Nation;
Whereas public health professionals work to lessen the burden of disease through 
        research, surveillance and monitoring, education, and prevention by 
        developing strategies, tools, policies, and programs, and in so doing 
        are essential to improving quality of life and extending life 
        expectancy;
Whereas public health professionals have continuously shown their value in 
        reducing and abating health and environmental threats such as influenza 
        and lead poisoning, tracing and addressing food-borne illnesses, and 
        other disease outbreaks, and promoting wellness by encouraging healthy 
        behaviors;
Whereas, as of November 6, 2020, COVID-19, a global health pandemic, has claimed 
        the lives of over 230,000 Americans and the number of persons infected 
        has surpassed 9,500,000;
Whereas public health professionals continue to selflessly serve as a first line 
        of defense against COVID-19, providing patient care, uncovering critical 
        information about the virus and strategies for mitigating its 
        destructive impact, and shaping strategies for forestalling and 
        minimizing the damage of future outbreaks;
Whereas public health professionals work tirelessly to prevent other infectious 
        diseases from spreading and to reduce the impact of the spectrum of 
        longstanding and emerging global health threats;
Whereas public health professionals play a critical role in combating opioid 
        addiction and opioid-related overdose deaths, which are devastating 
        communities across the Nation;
Whereas public health professionals are working to combat antimicrobial 
        resistance, which affects 2,800,000 people in the United States and 
        leads to the deaths of at least 35,000 Americans each year;
Whereas public health professionals play a pivotal role in reducing racial, 
        ethnic, and geographical disparities in health and health care that 
        dampen the Nation's strength, prosperity, and productivity;
Whereas COVID-19 has intensified health disparities, disproportionately 
        affecting communities of color and creating acute health care challenges 
        in rural areas of the Nation; and
Whereas public health professionals are among the heroic first responders who 
        respond to and work to prevent natural disasters and environmental 
        hazards that present a persistent threat to the life, health, and safety 
        of all individuals in the United States: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That it is the sense of Congress that public health professionals in 
the United States are to be applauded, extolled, and thanked on Public 
Health Thank You Day for their widespread and meaningful contributions 
to the Nation.
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