[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 59 (Thursday, April 12, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S2127]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE RESOLUTION 462--SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF NATIONAL 
                           PUBLIC HEALTH WEEK

  Mr. UDALL (for himself, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Markey, Ms. Heitkamp, Ms. 
Warren, Mr. Cardin, Mr. King, Mrs. Shaheen, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. 
Blumenthal, Mr. Heinrich, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Brown, Ms. Hassan, and Mr. 
Van Hollen) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions:

                              S. Res. 462

       Whereas the week of April 2, 2018, through April 8, 2018, 
     is National Public Health Week;
       Whereas the theme for National Public Health Week in 2018 
     is ``Healthiest Nation 2030: Changing Our Future Together'', 
     with the goal of making the United States the healthiest 
     Nation in one generation;
       Whereas there is a significant difference in the health 
     status of individuals with different abilities and 
     demographics, such as obesity, poor mental health and 
     infectious disease, of people living in the healthiest States 
     compared to people living in the least healthy States;
       Whereas according to the National Academy 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 measures of health, 
     including life expectancy, infant mortality and maternal 
     mortality rates;
       Whereas the life expectancy for the United States 
     population declined for the second year in a row, and the 
     leading causes of deaths are among the most common, costly, 
     and preventable of all health problems;
       Whereas despite having a high infant mortality rate 
     compared to other economically prosperous and developing 
     countries, and the death rate varying greatly among States, 
     overall, the United States was making steady progress, until 
     recently, with the infant mortality rate reaching a historic 
     low of 5.8 infant deaths per 1,000 live births in 2016;
       Whereas more women die from pregnancy-related deaths in the 
     United States than any other developed country, and the 
     number of maternal deaths per 100,000 live births has 
     increased from 16.9 in 1990 to 26.4 in 2015;
       Whereas the number of overdose deaths involving opioids was 
     more than five times higher than in 1999 and 115 Americans on 
     average die every day from an opioid-involved death requiring 
     a comprehensive strategy across a range of sectors including 
     robust efforts to prevent substance misuse disorders;
       Whereas the percentage of adults using tobacco products in 
     the United States, the leading cause of preventable disease 
     and death in the United States, accounting for more than 
     480,000 deaths every year including more than 41,000 deaths 
     resulting from secondhand smoke, decreased from 20.9 percent 
     in 2005 to 15.5 percent in 2016;
       Whereas approximately 554,000 adults suffered from 
     homelessness in the United States in 2017, an increase since 
     2010, with 35 percent of homeless individuals still living 
     unsheltered;
       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, worship, and play;
       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 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 public health professionals help communities 
     prevent, prepare for, withstand, and recover from the impact 
     of a full range of health threats, including disease 
     outbreaks such as the Zika virus, 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 in communities across the United States, 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; 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, injury, 
     and promoting quality of life;
       (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;
       (B) strengthening the public health system in the United 
     States; and
       (C) using data to guide policies and behaviors that promote 
     health and quality of life; 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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