[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 35 (Thursday, March 11, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1463-S1464]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SENATE RESOLUTION 453--SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF ``NATIONAL
PUBLIC HEALTH WEEK''
Mr. UDALL of New Mexico (for himself, Mr. Brown of Ohio, Mr. Burris,
Mr. Wyden, Mr. Akaka, Mr. Menendez, Mr. Tester, Mr. Begich, Mr. Durbin,
and Mr. Merkley) submitted the following resolution; which was referred
to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions:
S. Res. 453
Whereas the week of April 5 through 11, 2010, is ``National
Public Health Week'';
[[Page S1464]]
Whereas the theme of ``National Public Health Week'' is ``A
Healthier America: One Community at a Time'';
Whereas the United States spends more on health care than
any other country in the world, but an estimated 47,000,000
people in the United States do not have health insurance and
millions more do not have access to life-saving clinical
preventive services;
Whereas millions of people in the United States do not have
access to cost-effective, community-based preventive
services;
Whereas many of the illnesses that are caused by tobacco
use, poor diet, physical inactivity, and alcohol consumption
are potentially preventable;
Whereas many neighborhoods lack access to safe walkways and
bikeways, are inaccessible by public transportation, and are
too far from offices, schools, health providers, and grocery
stores to walk;
Whereas studies have shown that 10,500,000 cases of
infectious disease and 33,000 deaths can be prevented in the
United States by the standard childhood immunization series;
Whereas public health professionals and lawmakers are
working to enact a health reform bill that emphasizes
prevention and supports a strong public health
infrastructure, despite challenges; and
Whereas a change in individual communities will improve the
health of the people of the United States: Now, therefore, be
it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) supports the goals and ideals of ``National Public
Health Week'';
(2) recognizes the efforts of public health professionals,
the Federal Government, States, municipalities, local
communities, and individuals in improving the health of the
people of the United States;
(3) recognizes the role of public health programs in
preventing disease, promoting good health, protecting the
food supply, protecting worker health and safety, ensuring
access to clean air and water, promoting nutrition for
children, and achieving the many other benefits of public
health programs that promote the health of the people of the
United States;
(4) encourages efforts to increase access to both clinical
and community-based preventive services and to strengthen the
public health system of the United States to improve the
health of the people of the United States;
(5) encourages community planners to consider the health
implications of planning decisions and to plan communities
and transportation systems that enable all residents to
access safe, affordable housing, nutritious foods, clean air
and water, public transportation, safe sidewalks, safe
streets, and public health services; and
(6) encourages each person in the United States to learn
about the role of public health programs in improving the
health of the people of the United States.
Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. President, I rise to ask the U.S. Senate
to resolve that April 5th-11th be known as National Public Health Week
2010. I submit this resolution along with my colleagues Senators Akaka,
Begich, Sherrod Brown, Burris, Durbin, Menendez, Tester, Wyden, and
Berkley.
Since 1995, we have recognized the first week in April as National
Public Health Week in order to help focus the efforts of hundreds of
thousands of public health professionals and organizations to educate
the public, policymakers, and practitioners about the importance of
public health.
This year's theme is ``A Healthier America: One Community at a
Time.'' This is especially timely since I hope that we sill soon pass
comprehensive health care reform and because for the first time, the
next generation is not expected to be healthier that the previous one.
This is also consistent with the First Lady Michelle Obama's efforts to
reduce child obesity.
Our Nation's health is in poor shape. Despite spending more money on
health care than any other country, more than 47 million Americans
still do not have health insurance, nearly 900,000 people die from
deaths that can be prevented each year, and we lag far behind the rest
of the developed world in preventing obesity, HIV/AIDS infections, and
many other diseases.
During this week, public health workers across the country will be
focusing on how to more fully and effectively achieve a healthier
Nation. They will be addressing the underlying social and economic
conditions that encourage individuals and communities to be healthy, as
well as shifting us from a Nation solely focused on treating individual
illness to one that also promotes population-based health services that
encourage preventive and early intervention practices.
For example, public health and prevention strategies from the
foundation for health system reform. Community-level intervention has
more positive health impact on people than individual interventions
alone. Population-based programs address main causes of disease,
disability and health disparities for a wide range of people and can
help achieve increased value for our health dollar.
During National Public Health Week, Americans will be asked to
champion public health by making healthy changes--big and small--in
their families, individual neighborhoods, workplaces and schools.
I wish to thank the American Public Health Association for leading
this effort and the National Association of County and City Health
Officials, Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists, and
Partnership for Prevention for endorsing this recognition, and helping
us highlight the importance of strengthening our public health system
and encouraging Americans to value public health and take part in
preventing disease and building healthier communities.
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