[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 46 (Thursday, March 14, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S1908]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 116--SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF SOCIAL WORK 
           MONTH AND WORLD SOCIAL WORK DAY ON MARCH 19, 2019

  Ms. STABENOW submitted the following resolution; which was referred 
to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions:

                              S. Res. 116

       Whereas the social work profession is dedicated to 
     enhancing well-being and helping meet the basic needs of all 
     people, especially those who are vulnerable, oppressed, and 
     living in poverty;
       Whereas, in 2019, the theme of Social Work Month, ``Elevate 
     Social Work'', embodies the need to recognize the 
     extraordinary contributions of the profession to the society 
     of the United States;
       Whereas the social work profession is expected to grow 
     faster than average over the next 7 years, with more than 
     682,000 people expected to be employed as social workers by 
     2026;
       Whereas social workers elevate and empower people, giving 
     them the ability to solve problems, cope with personal 
     roadblocks, and get the resources they need to succeed;
       Whereas the social work profession is deeply woven into the 
     society of the United States, with social workers active in 
     government, schools, universities, social service agencies, 
     communities, corporations, the military, and health care and 
     mental health care settings;
       Whereas social workers are the largest group of providers 
     of mental health services in the United States, and the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs is one of the largest 
     employers of social workers who hold advanced degrees;
       Whereas social workers travel across the United States and 
     the world to help people in crisis, helping them overcome 
     issues such as death and grief, epidemics, environmental 
     pollution, and natural disasters such as wildfires, 
     hurricanes, and floods;
       Whereas social workers have been at the forefront of social 
     justice for decades, pushing for equal rights for women, 
     African Americans, Latinos, people who are disabled, people 
     who are LGBTQ, and various ethnic, cultural, and religious 
     groups;
       Whereas, for more than a century, the social work 
     profession has been on the cutting edge of helping to create 
     changes to make the society of the United States a better 
     place to live, including expanded voting rights, improved 
     workplace safety, and the establishment of a minimum wage and 
     social safety net programs that ameliorate poverty and 
     hunger; and
       Whereas social workers stand ready to help the society of 
     the United States address current pressing issues, including 
     equal rights for all, the need for improved availability of 
     health care and mental health services, immigration reform, 
     voting rights, and the environmental impact of global 
     warming: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) supports the goals and ideals of Social Work Month and 
     World Social Work Day on March 19, 2019;
       (2) acknowledges the diligent efforts of individuals and 
     groups that promote the importance of social work and observe 
     Social Work Month and World Social Work Day;
       (3) encourages individuals to engage in appropriate 
     ceremonies and activities to promote further awareness of the 
     life-changing roles that social workers play; and
       (4) recognizes with gratitude the contributions of the 
     millions of caring individuals who have chosen to serve their 
     communities through social work.

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