[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 39 (Tuesday, March 31, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S2864]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   SENATE RESOLUTION 205--CELEBRATING ``NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH WEEK''

  Mr. FAIRCLOTH (for himself, Mr. Jeffords, Mr. Bond, Mr. Frist, Mr. 
Chafee, and Mr. Inouye) submitted the following resolution; which was 
referred to the Committee on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 205

       Whereas over the past 50 years, the United States has 
     achieved significant increases in life expectancy and 
     reductions in the incidence of injury, disability, and 
     disease;
       Whereas the public health approach is credited with the 
     majority of improvements in our Nation's health status and 
     expanded life expectancy of 30 additional years since the 
     turn of the century;
       Whereas public health services are successful in 
     identifying and addressing patterns of disease, illness, and 
     injury in populations and ensuring healthy living and working 
     environments;
       Whereas the 3,000 public health departments of the Nation 
     provide the critical frontline of defense against the dangers 
     posed by infectious disease outbreaks, natural disasters, 
     terrorist acts, and other serious threats to the health of 
     Americans; and
       Whereas ``National Public Health Week'' provides an 
     opportunity to highlight and commend the efforts of public 
     health professionals to protect, promote, and enhance the 
     health of all citizens in communities across this country: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes the outstanding dedication of community, 
     State, and Federal public health professionals and services 
     and commends the professionals for their role in safeguarding 
     communities and workplaces, and improving health and well-
     being of Americans; and
       (2) calls upon Americans to celebrate ``National Public 
     Health Week'' during the week of April 6 through April 12, 
     1998, with appropriate activities and ceremonies.

  Mr. FAIRCLOTH. Mr. President, I rise today to ask my colleagues to 
join me in celebrating National Public Health Week during the week of 
April 6 through April 12. I believe that this years theme, ``healthy 
people in healthy communities'' says it all. It should be the goal of 
every single one of us of help focus public attention on major health 
issues in our communities, and the contributions our public health 
professionals play in addressing our health and safety needs.
  Established by Congress in 1995, public health week affords us an 
opportunity to learn and to teach others about public health success 
stories like the elimination of small pox and polio and improvements in 
childhood immunization. Few people know that it was public health that 
successfully waged the war to reduce lead from paint, fluoridate 
drinking water and protect people from gasoline vapor, thus giving our 
children a brighter future and gaining a 30-year increase in life 
expectancy in the 20th century.
  Incidence of heart disease and stroke have dramatically declined 
through public health community-wide education initiatives. As someone 
who represents people who live in the buckle of the stroke belt in the 
United States, I was pleased to learn that 2 million American deaths 
from heart disease and stroke have been prevented in the past thirty 
years through public health prevention programs.
  I urge my colleagues to take a moment during spring recess to 
participate in public health activities in their states. In years past, 
North Carolinians have organized health fairs in churches and community 
centers, and sponsored ``healthy eating'' cooking contests to 
commemorate the week. I urge all Americans to take the time to evaluate 
their own personal health consciousness.
  As we approach the millennium, threats of biological and viral 
epidemics plague our communities like never before. Our public health 
departments and professionals serve as our first line of defense 
against the growing threat of infectious disease and bioterrorism. With 
less than 40 percent of our health departments able to communicate by 
computer with CDC, it is our obligation to provide public health with 
the manpower, training, and equipment needed to fight these growing 
threats.
  Our U.S. Public Health Service will celebrate their 200th anniversary 
this summer, and the 50th anniversary of the World Health Organization. 
Let us be the Congress that is known for making the health of our 
citizens our No. 1 priority.
  Mr. President, it is my honor and privilege to submit to you today a 
Senate resolution to recognize the contributions of public health and 
prevention services to our nation in an effort to celebrate National 
Public Health Week.

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