[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 155 (Wednesday, September 25, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S5710]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





  SENATE RESOLUTION 338--DESIGNATING THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 23 THROUGH 
         SEPTEMBER 27, 2019, AS ``MALNUTRITION AWARENESS WEEK''

  Mr. MURPHY (for himself, Mr. Grassley, Ms. Sinema, Mr. Booker, Mr. 
Blumenthal, Mrs. Capito, Mr. Coons, Ms. Hassan, Mr. King, Mr. Roberts, 
Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Lankford, and Mr. Wyden) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 338

       Whereas malnutrition is the condition that occurs when a 
     person does not get enough nutrients;
       Whereas malnutrition is a significant problem in the United 
     States and around the world, crossing all age, racial, class, 
     gender, and geographic lines;
       Whereas, in the United States, infants, older adults, 
     people with chronic diseases, and other vulnerable 
     populations are particularly at risk for malnutrition;
       Whereas disease-associated malnutrition costs the United 
     States more than $15,500,000,000 each year;
       Whereas approximately \3/4\ of individuals in the United 
     States have eating patterns of vegetables, fruits, dairy, and 
     oils that are below the recommended dietary guidelines;
       Whereas many vulnerable individuals in the United States do 
     not get the daily recommended amount of lean proteins;
       Whereas approximately 6,000,000 children in the United 
     States live in food insecure homes;
       Whereas the American Academy of Pediatrics has found that 
     failure to provide key nutrients during early childhood may 
     result in lifelong deficits in brain function;
       Whereas disease-associated malnutrition affects between 30 
     and 50 percent of patients admitted to hospitals;
       Whereas the medical costs of hospitalized patients with 
     malnutrition can be 300 percent more than the medical costs 
     of properly nourished patients;
       Whereas more than \1/2\ of older adults living in the 
     community are at risk for malnutrition; and
       Whereas the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral 
     Nutrition created Malnutrition Awareness Week to raise 
     awareness and promote prevention of malnutrition: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates the week of September 23 through September 
     27, 2019, as ``Malnutrition Awareness Week'';
       (2) recognizes registered dietitian nutritionists and other 
     nutrition professionals, health care providers, social 
     workers, advocates, caregivers, and other professionals and 
     agencies for their efforts to advance awareness and 
     prevention of malnutrition;
       (3) recognizes the importance of existing Federal nutrition 
     programs for their role in combatting malnutrition and 
     supports continuing resources to prevent and treat 
     malnutrition; and
       (4) recognizes the need to reauthorize the special 
     supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and 
     children established by section 17 of the Child Nutrition Act 
     of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786) and the child nutrition programs of 
     the Department of Agriculture to provide critical nutrition 
     assistance to vulnerable populations.

                          ____________________