[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 674 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 674

Designating the week of April 13 through April 19, 2026, as ``National 
                      Osteopathic Medicine Week''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

               April 16 (legislative day, April 14), 2026

   Mr. Wicker (for himself and Mr. Heinrich) submitted the following 
    resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

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                               RESOLUTION


 
Designating the week of April 13 through April 19, 2026, as ``National 
                      Osteopathic Medicine Week''.

Whereas there are more than 167,000 osteopathic physicians and nearly 40,000 
        osteopathic medical students in the United States;
Whereas the number of osteopathic physicians in the United States grew by over 
        70,000 in the last decade;
Whereas osteopathic physicians and medical students train at high-caliber 
        schools of osteopathic medicine across the United States, including in 
        rural and underserved communities;
Whereas osteopathic medical schools make up 4 of the top 10 medical schools, 
        with the most graduates practicing in medically underserved areas;
Whereas, in 1874, Andrew Taylor Still, Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, 
        introduced the principles of osteopathic medicine, emphasizing the idea 
        that the body is a unit, and its structure and function are 
        interrelated;
Whereas osteopathic physicians have made significant contributions to the 
        healthcare system of the United States since the founding of the first 
        osteopathic medical school in 1892;
Whereas osteopathic medicine emphasizes a whole-person, patient-centric approach 
        to healthcare, and osteopathic physicians play an important role in the 
        healthcare system of the United States;
Whereas osteopathic physicians train and practice in all medical specialties and 
        practice settings;
Whereas 53 percent of osteopathic medical students matched into primary care 
        residency positions in 2025, helping address the growing United States 
        physician shortage, of which half of the number of needed physicians are 
        projected to be primary care physicians;
Whereas osteopathic physicians and medical students in the United States are 
        dedicated to improving the health of their communities and delivering 
        high-quality care for the body, mind, and spirit; and
Whereas osteopathic physicians practice in every State: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) designates the week of April 13 through April 19, 2026, 
        as ``National Osteopathic Medicine Week'';
            (2) recognizes the contributions of osteopathic physicians 
        to the healthcare system of the United States; and
            (3) celebrates the role that colleges of osteopathic 
        medicine play in training the next generation of physicians.
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