[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 52 (Monday, April 13, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Page S2112]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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  SENATE RESOLUTION 133--SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF NATIONAL 
                           PUBLIC HEALTH WEEK

  Mr. UDALL (for himself, Mr. Schumer, Ms. Warren, Mr. Brown, Mr. 
Blumenthal, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Heinrich, Mr. Cardin, and 
Mr. Franken) submitted the following resolution; which was considered 
and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 133

       Whereas the week of April 6, 2015, through April 12, 2015, 
     is National Public Health Week;
       Whereas the theme for National Public Health Week in 2015 
     is ``Healthiest Nation 2030'', with the goal of making the 
     United States the healthiest nation in one generation;
       Whereas public health organizations use National Public 
     Health Week to educate the public, policymakers, and public 
     health professionals on issues that are important to 
     improving the health of the people of the United States;
       Whereas the value of a strong public health system is in 
     the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat, and 
     the places where we all live, learn, work, and play;
       Whereas there is a 16 percent difference in the health 
     status of people living in the healthiest States compared to 
     people living in the least healthy States;
       Whereas public health professionals help communities 
     prevent, prepare for, withstand, and recover from the impact 
     of a full range of health threats, including disease 
     outbreaks, natural disasters, and disasters caused by human 
     activity;
       Whereas public health professionals collaborate with 
     partners that are not in the health sector, such as city 
     planners, transportation officials, education officials, and 
     private sector businesses, recognizing that other sectors 
     have an important influence on health;
       Whereas according to the Institute of Medicine, despite 
     being one of the wealthiest nations in the world, the United 
     States ranks below many other economically prosperous and 
     developing countries with respect to many indicators for 
     healthy life, including life expectancy, infant mortality 
     rates, low birth weight rates, and the rate of drug-related 
     deaths;
       Whereas studies show that small strategic investments in 
     prevention can result in significant savings in health care 
     costs;
       Whereas each 10 percent increase in local public health 
     spending contributes to a 6.9 percent decrease in infant 
     deaths, a 3.2 percent decrease in deaths related to 
     cardiovascular disease, a 1.4 percent decrease in deaths due 
     to diabetes, and a 1.1 percent decrease in cancer-related 
     deaths;
       Whereas in communities across the country, more people are 
     changing the way they care for their health by avoiding 
     tobacco use, eating healthier, becoming more physically 
     active, and preventing unintentional injuries at home and in 
     the workplace;
       Whereas despite having a high infant mortality rate 
     compared to other economically prosperous and developing 
     countries, the United States is making progress, with the 
     infant mortality rate declining 12 percent between 2005 and 
     2011;
       Whereas in 2013, the percentage of adults smoking in the 
     United States decreased from 21.2 percent to 19.6 percent and 
     the percentage of physically inactive adults in the United 
     States decreased from 26.2 percent to 22.9 percent; and
       Whereas efforts to adequately support public health and 
     prevention can continue to transform a health system focused 
     on treating illness to a health system focused on preventing 
     disease and promoting wellness: 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, tribes, municipalities, local 
     communities, and individuals in preventing disease and 
     injury;
       (3) recognizes the role of public health in improving the 
     health of individuals in the United States;
       (4) encourages increased efforts and resources to improve 
     the health of people in the United States to create the 
     healthiest nation in one generation through--
       (A) greater opportunities to improve community health and 
     prevent disease and injury; and
       (B) strengthening the public health system in the United 
     States; and
       (5) encourages the people of the United States to learn 
     about the role of the public health system in improving 
     health in the United States.

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