[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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