[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 135 (Tuesday, September 13, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5584-S5585]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RESOLUTIONS SUBMITTED TODAY
Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed
to the immediate consideration en bloc of the following resolutions,
which were submitted earlier today: S. Res. 262, S. Res. 263, S. Res.
264, and S. Res. 265.
There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the
resolutions.
Mr. DURBIN. I ask unanimous consent that the resolutions be agreed
to, the preambles be agreed to, the motions to reconsider be laid upon
the table en bloc, with no intervening action or debate, and any
related statements be printed in the Record.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The resolutions were agreed to.
The preambles were agreed to.
The resolutions, with their preambles, read as follows:
S. Res. 262
Designating the week beginning on September 12, 2011, and ending on
September 16, 2011, as ``National Health Information Technology Week''
to recognize the value of health information technology in improving
health quality
Whereas healthcare information technology and management
systems have been recognized as essential tools for improving
patient care, ensuring patient safety, stopping duplicative
tests and paperwork, and reducing health care costs;
Whereas the Center for Information Technology Leadership
has 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 healthcare each year;
Whereas Congress has made a commitment to leveraging the
benefits of healthcare information technology and management
systems, including supporting the adoption of electronic
health records that will help to reduce costs and improve
quality while ensuring the privacy of patients;
Whereas Congress has emphasized improving the quality and
safety of delivery of healthcare 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 healthcare system that the
implementation of health information technology could
achieve: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) designates the week beginning on September 12, 2011,
and ending on September 16, 2011, as ``National Health
Information Technology Week'';
(2) recognizes the value of information technology and
management systems in transforming healthcare for the people
of the United States; and
(3) calls on all interested parties to promote the use of
information technology and management systems to transform
the healthcare system of the United States.
S. Res. 263
Designating the week beginning September 11, 2011, as ``National Direct
Support Professionals Recognition Week''
Whereas direct support professionals, direct care workers,
personal assistants, personal attendants, in-home support
workers, and paraprofessionals (referred to in this preamble
as ``direct support professionals'') are the primary
providers of publicly-funded long term supports and services
for millions of individuals;
Whereas a direct support professional must build a close,
trusted relationship with an individual with disabilities;
Whereas a direct support professional assists an individual
with disabilities with the most intimate needs, on a daily
basis;
Whereas direct support professionals provide a broad range
of support, including preparation of meals, helping with
medications, bathing, dressing, mobility, transportation to
school, work, religious, and recreational activities, and
general daily affairs;
Whereas a direct support professional provides essential
support to help keep an individual with disabilities
connected to such individual's family and community;
Whereas direct support professionals enable individuals
with disabilities to live meaningful, productive lives;
Whereas direct support professionals are the key to
allowing an individual with disabilities to live successfully
in such individual's community, and to avoid more costly
institutional care;
Whereas the majority of direct support professionals are
female, and many are the sole breadwinners of their families;
Whereas direct support professionals work and pay taxes,
but many such professionals remain impoverished and are
eligible for the same Federal and State public assistance
programs on which the individuals with disabilities served by
such direct support professionals must depend;
Whereas Federal and State policies, as well as the Supreme
Court, in Olmstead v. L.C., 527 U.S. 581 (1999), assert the
right of an individual to live in the home and community of
the individual;
Whereas, in 2011, the majority of direct support
professionals are employed in home and community-based
settings and this trend is projected to increase over the
decade;
Whereas there is a documented critical and growing shortage
of direct support professionals in every community throughout
the United States; and
Whereas many direct support professionals are forced to
leave jobs due to inadequate wages and benefits, creating
high turnover and vacancy rates that research demonstrates
adversely affects the quality of supports to individuals with
disabilities: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) designates the week beginning September 11, 2011, as
``National Direct Support Professionals Recognition Week'';
(2) recognizes the dedication and vital role of direct
support professionals in enhancing the lives of individuals
with disabilities of all ages;
(3) appreciates the contribution of direct support
professionals in supporting the needs that reach beyond the
capacities of millions of families in the United States;
(4) commends direct support professionals as integral in
supporting the long-term support and services system of the
United States; and
(5) finds that the successful implementation of the public
policies of the United States depends on the dedication of
direct support professionals.
S. Res. 264
Designating September 12, 2011, as ``National Day of Encouragement''
Whereas negative images, stories, and influences in the
day-to-day lives of the people of the United States can
detrimentally affect
[[Page S5585]]
their emotional well-being, interactions with others, and
general demeanor;
Whereas a group of teenagers participating in a leadership
forum at Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas, identified a
lack of encouragement as one of the greatest problems facing
young people today;
Whereas the youth of the United States need guidance,
inspiration, and reassurance to counteract this negativity
and to develop the qualities of character essential for
future leadership in the United States;
Whereas a National Day of Encouragement would serve as a
reminder to counterbalance and overcome negative influences,
and would also provide much-needed encouragement and support
to others;
Whereas, following the events of September 11, 2001,
thousands of people made sacrifices in order to bring help
and healing to the victims and their families, inspiring and
encouraging the people of the United States; and
Whereas the renewed feelings of unity, hope, selflessness,
and encouragement that began on September 12, 2001, are the
same feelings that the National Day of Encouragement is meant
to recapture and spread: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) designates September 12, 2011, as ``National Day of
Encouragement'';
(2) acknowledges the importance of encouragement and
positive influences in the lives of all people; and
(3) urges the people of the United States to encourage
others, whether through an act of service, a thoughtful
letter, or words of kindness and inspiration, and by that
encouragement to boost the morale of all people of the United
States.
S. Res. 265
Honoring the lifetime achievements of E. Thom Rumberger
Whereas E. Thom Rumberger served in the United States
Marine Corps;
Whereas Thom Rumberger earned a bachelor's degree, with
honors, and a J.D. from the University of Florida;
Whereas Thom Rumberger was a founding partner of the law
firm Rumberger, Kirk & Caldwell, which has represented
multinational corporations such as American Airlines, Inc.,
Sears, Roebuck and Co., and Toyota Motor Corporation;
Whereas Thom Rumberger was listed in Florida Super Lawyers
every year from 2007 to 2010;
Whereas Thom Rumberger was appointed Circuit Judge in the
18th Judicial Circuit of Florida in 1969;
Whereas Thom Rumberger committed himself to numerous acts
of public service, including serving on the Federal Judicial
Advisory Commission of Florida and the Board of Supervisors
of the Spaceport Florida Authority;
Whereas Thom Rumberger was one of the most steadfast
champions of the Everglades in Florida;
Whereas Thom Rumberger served as lead counsel for the
Everglades Foundation since 1999;
Whereas Thom Rumberger was instrumental in the passage of 2
amendments to the Florida Constitution and of section 601 of
the Water Resources Development Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-
541; 114 Stat. 2680), known as the Comprehensive Everglades
Restoration Plan;
Whereas Thom Rumberger was instrumental in obtaining
several billion dollars in funding for Everglades
restoration; and
Whereas Thom Rumberger served on the Florida Governor's
2001 Select Task Force on Elections and the 2002 Select Task
Force on Election Procedures, Standards and Technology, and
was Chairman of the Legislature's Study Committee on Public
Records in 2002: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) recognizes and honors the professional success of E.
Thom Rumberger; and
(2) recognizes and honors the lifelong dedication of Thom
Rumberger to the protection of the Florida Everglades.
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