[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 72 (Thursday, May 3, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5604-S5605]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 31--EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR ADVANCING VITAL 
UNITED STATES INTERESTS THROUGH INCREASED ENGAGEMENT IN HEALTH PROGRAMS 
   THAT ALLEVIATE DISEASE AND REDUCE PREMATURE DEATH IN DEVELOPMENT 
    NATIONS, ESPECIALLY THROUGH PROGRAMS THAT COMBAT HIGH LEVELS OF 
  INFECTIOUS DISEASE IMPROVE CHILDREN'S AND WOMEN'S HEALTH, DECREASE 
 MALNUTRITION, REDUCE UNINTENDED PREGNANCIES, FIGHT THE SPREAD OF HIV/
 AIDS, ENCOURAGE HEALTHY BEHAVIORS, AND STRENGTHEN HEALTH CARE CAPACITY

  Mr. FEINGOLD (for himself and Mr. Sununu) submitted the following 
concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign 
Relations:

                            S. Con. Res. 31

       Whereas health is integral to social and economic 
     development and to building stable, independent, and 
     productive societies;
       Whereas unnecessarily high levels of preventable death and 
     disability persist in developing nations, including over 
     10,000,000 child deaths every year--30,000 each day--a 
     majority of which are from easily preventable or treatable 
     causes, including pneumonia, diarrhea, malaria, malnutrition, 
     measles, and complications immediately following birth; 
     40,000,000 people infected with HIV and 3,000,000 AIDS deaths 
     per year; 530,000 deaths of women every year from 
     complications related to pregnancy and childbirth and 
     millions of cases of trauma and disability caused by 
     obstetric fistula and other preventable injuries; an unmet 
     need for family planning among over 100,000,000 married 
     women; 1,000,000 deaths annually from malaria, most of which 
     are among young children and in sub-Saharan Africa; an 
     expanding threat from tuberculosis, which is a principal 
     cause of death among those infected with HIV and is evolving 
     into forms increasingly resistant to all known drugs; the 
     increasing impact of preventable, non-communicable disease, 
     especially those deriving from tobacco use, alcohol and drug 
     abuse, and other risky lifestyle behaviors; and the potential 
     of new disease threats, such as avian influenza, which demand 
     new levels of preparedness and health capacity;
       Whereas the short and long-term economic, military, and 
     political security of countries is directly threatened by 
     increased mortality and morbidity resulting from infectious 
     diseases like HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria, poor 
     maternal and newborn health, the lack of family planning 
     services, and the absence of clean water;
       Whereas proven and cost-effective solutions that have 
     already achieved astonishing successes are readily available 
     and could dramatically further reduce the burden of death and 
     disease, including access to immunization, antibiotics, 
     diarrheal disease control, newborn care, improved nutrition, 
     antiretrovirals, essential obstetric care, family planning, 
     anti-malarials and insecticide treated nets, and tuberculosis 
     treatment;
       Whereas long term gains in health require a comprehensive 
     approach that addresses the range of critical health problems 
     and builds local capacity while ensuring equitable access, 
     especially by the poor, women and girls, and other vulnerable 
     populations, to services; and
       Whereas the United States has a history of leadership and 
     success in building international consensus and improving 
     health throughout the world by investing in basic health 
     services, particularly services for poor and vulnerable 
     populations: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That Congress--
       (1) recognizes that contributing to improving health in 
     developing nations is in the vital interest of the United 
     States, as it helps protect the health of the American 
     people, facilitates development among partner nations, 
     cultivates a positive image for the United States, and 
     projects the humanitarian values of the American people;
       (2) acknowledges the need to strengthen health care systems 
     to meet essential health needs, including surveillance and 
     information systems, facilities and equipment, management 
     capacity, and an adequately compensated health care work 
     force that is appropriate in number, composition, and skills;
       (3) supports the unprecedented and unparalleled investments 
     of the United States in reducing the global burdens of HIV/
     AIDS and malaria through the President's Emergency Program 
     for AIDS Relief and the President's Malaria Initiative; and
       (4) encourages the United States Government to expand its 
     adoption and implementation of policies and programs that 
     alleviate the greatest burden of disease in developing 
     nations in the most efficient and cost-effective manner 
     possible.

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