[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 860 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 860

 Expressing support for raising awareness about the growing population 
  of young adults living with chronic health conditions in the United 
                                States.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            November 9, 2023

 Mr. Raskin submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee 
    on Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently 
   determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 
 provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing support for raising awareness about the growing population 
  of young adults living with chronic health conditions in the United 
                                States.

Whereas due to advances in medicine and biotechnology, many young people with 
        serious conditions including cystic fibrosis, sickle cell disease, 
        cancer, cerebral palsy, diabetes, and complex congenital heart disease 
        are now living into adulthood;
Whereas the overall percentage of children in the United States with chronic 
        conditions has increased in recent decades, and today more than 26 
        percent of children in the United States have special health care needs, 
        defined as having or being at increased risk for chronic physical, 
        developmental, behavioral, or emotional conditions;
Whereas, between 2011 and 2017, approximately 4,500,000 youth in the United 
        States with special health care needs transitioned from pediatric care 
        to adult health care;
Whereas while definitions of ``young adult'' vary, many scholars consider 
        individuals aged 18 to 34 to be young adults;
Whereas a 2015 National Academies report stated that young adults are a distinct 
        population from adolescents and older adults, and will benefit from 
        targeted studies, research, policies, and programs;
Whereas proactive and preventive care for young adults living with chronic 
        conditions is essential for improving their health and quality of life, 
        and for reducing the overall cost of care;
Whereas medical research has demonstrated the need for a holistic lifespan 
        approach to chronic disease management that integrates physical, mental, 
        and behavioral health;
Whereas former Surgeon General Dr. C. Everett Koop, speaking about adolescents 
        and young people with chronic conditions in 1989, presciently warned of 
        the ``barriers they encounter and must surmount if they are to secure 
        ongoing quality medical care as they make the transition from childhood 
        to adulthood'';
Whereas the United States health care system often does not adequately address 
        the unique needs of young adults with chronic conditions, and too often 
        they remain a largely invisible population in research and policymaking;
Whereas a 2015 National Academies report found that ``the transition from 
        pediatric to adult providers is confusing and difficult, especially for 
        those with behavioral health problems or a chronic condition'', and that 
        the challenges include a lack of training in childhood-onset conditions 
        among adult providers, poor communication between child and adult 
        providers and systems of care, and discontinuities in care;
Whereas the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine has found that young 
        adults with chronic conditions who belong to marginalized groups are 
        less likely to experience a successful transition to the adult health 
        care system, including youth emerging from the foster care system or the 
        juvenile justice system, youth of color, and youth from disadvantaged 
        socioeconomic backgrounds;
Whereas young adults are the age group in the United States least likely to have 
        health insurance, with 2022 Census data indicating that 14 percent of 
        young adults ages 19 to 25 are uninsured and 12.5 percent of young 
        adults ages 26 to 34 are uninsured;
Whereas young adults with chronic conditions sometimes struggle to find 
        institutional support for their conditions in educational settings and 
        in the workplace;
Whereas the mental health crisis among young people has become more severe since 
        the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, with approximately one-third of 
        young adults living with mental illness, and young adults with chronic 
        conditions are at higher risk of secondary mental health conditions;
Whereas young adults with chronic conditions who do not receive high-quality, 
        appropriate care are at risk for poor health outcomes and missing 
        important social, educational, and economic milestones;
Whereas young adults who have chronic conditions are at higher risk of mortality 
        from their illness and from mental health conditions, and national data, 
        studies, and policy action are urgently needed in this area; and
Whereas when young adults with chronic conditions face barriers to fulfilling 
        their full potential, it has harmful consequences for our whole society: 
        Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports efforts to increase awareness of the unique 
        challenges faced by young adults struggling with chronic 
        conditions in the United States;
            (2) reaffirms the importance of research and interagency 
        data sharing on the population of young adults who have chronic 
        conditions; and
            (3) recognizes the importance of improving quality of life, 
        health care access, and higher education and employment 
        outcomes for all young adults with chronic conditions.
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