[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 106 (Friday, July 29, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9537-S9538]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 225--DESIGNATING THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER 2005 AS THE 
                       ``MONTH OF GLOBAL HEALTH''

  Mrs. MURRAY (for herself, Mr. Smith, Mrs. Clinton, Mr. Corzine, Ms. 
Cantwell, Mr. Dayton, Ms. Landrieu, and Mr. Durbin) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the 
Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 225

       Whereas child survival is a key element of global health 
     and is of utmost importance to the United States and all 
     countries of the world;
       Whereas child survival must be addressed on a global scale;
       Whereas increasing child survival rates is critical to 
     population growth in countries around the world;
       Whereas child survival depends on access to key nutrients 
     that can avert millions of unnecessary deaths in third world 
     countries from preventable diseases;
       Whereas 5 simple interventions, if delivered to children 
     before the age of 5, may significantly increase their chances 
     of survival;
       Whereas these 5 interventions--vaccines, antibiotics, 
     Vitamin A and micronutrients, oral rehydration therapy, and 
     insecticide-treated bednets--can be provided to third world 
     countries at minimal cost;
       Whereas 10,000,000 children die each year from preventable 
     diseases in third world countries and 6,000,000 of those 
     deaths could be prevented by the use of these interventions: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates the month of November 2005 as the ``Month of 
     Global Health'';
       (2) reaffirms its commitment to ensuring that children 
     around the world receive the interventions necessary for 
     survival as an integral component of efforts to improve 
     global health; and
       (3) encourages the people of the United States to observe 
     the ``Month of Global Health'' with appropriate participation 
     in key activities, programs, and fundraising in support of 
     worldwide child survival.

  Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I want to take time to comment on the 
resolution I am introducing today which designates the month of 
November 2005 as the ``Month of Global Health.''
  Today we live in a global community where all nations both benefit 
from those countries that prosper, and suffer with those that do not. 
The Month of Global Health is a great opportunity to increase awareness 
of the pressing global health crisis that threatens our own public 
health and that of all nations around the world.
  I believe this resolution is important and draws attention to the 
needs of a growing population of children in the developing world that 
are living without proper health care and the essential nutrients they 
need to survive. The resolution also highlights the necessary steps 
that must be taken to increase child survival rates in developing 
countries.
  Child survival is one of the key elements to addressing global 
health. As a nation, there is much more we can do to assist developing 
nations in their effort to increase child survival rates. We must work 
on a global scale to avert the millions of unnecessary deaths among 
children caused each year from preventable diseases.
  This resolution reaffirms our commitment to the children of the world 
and sends a message that child survival is a fundamental component in 
our efforts to improve global health.
  Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, today I am pleased to join my colleague 
Senator Murray in introducing an important resolution that will 
recognize November as the ``Global Health Month.''
  Every year, 10 million children die from preventable diseases in 
Third World countries. As many as 6 million of these deaths can be 
prevented by

[[Page S9538]]

vaccines, antibiotics, hydration adequate nutrition, and other simple, 
low-cost interventions.
  As a long-time champion of helping the most vulnerable populations 
both here and abroad, I believe it is important to bring this issue to 
the attention of the American public. We can and must do more to ensure 
children around the world receive the interventions necessary for 
survival.
  I hope my colleagues will join me in support of this resolution.

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