[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 135 (Wednesday, September 23, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S9759]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              NATIONAL HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY WEEK

  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 284, submitted 
earlier today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 284) expressing support for the 
     designation and goals of ``National Health Information 
     Technology Week'' for the period beginning on September 21, 
     2009, and ending on September 25, 2009.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. I ask unanimous consent the resolution be agreed to, 
the preamble be agreed to, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the 
table with no intervening action or debate, and any statements be 
printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 284) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 284

       Whereas the Healthcare Information and Management Systems 
     Society has collaborated with more than 5 dozen stakeholder 
     organizations for almost 50 years to transform health care by 
     improving information technology and management systems;
       Whereas the Center for Information Technology Leadership 
     estimated that the implementation of national standards for 
     interoperability and the exchange of health information would 
     save the United States approximately $77,000,000,000 in 
     expenses relating to health care each year;
       Whereas health care information technology and management 
     systems have been recognized as essential tools for improving 
     the quality and cost efficiency of the health care system;
       Whereas Congress has made a commitment to leveraging the 
     benefits of the health care information technology and 
     management systems, including through the adoption of 
     electronic medical records that will help to reduce costs and 
     improve quality while ensuring patients' privacy and 
     codification of the Office of the National Coordinator for 
     Health Information Technology;
       Whereas Congress has emphasized improving the quality and 
     safety of delivery of health care in the United States; and
       Whereas since 2006, organizations across the United States 
     have united to support National Health Information Technology 
     Week to improve public awareness of the benefits of improved 
     quality and cost efficiency of the health care system that 
     the implementation of health information technology could 
     achieve: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes the value of information technology and 
     management systems in transforming health care for the people 
     of the United States;
       (2) designates the period beginning on September 21, 2009, 
     and ending on September 25, 2009, as ``National Health 
     Information Technology Week''; and
       (3) calls on all stakeholders to promote the use of 
     information technology and management systems to transform 
     the health care system in the United States.

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