[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 85 (Wednesday, May 6, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Page S2294]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE RESOLUTION 561--SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF NATIONAL 
      NURSES WEEK, TO BE OBSERVED FROM MAY 6 THROUGH MAY 12, 2020

  Mr. MERKLEY (for himself, Mr. Wicker, Mr. Udall, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. 
Wyden, Mr. Cramer, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Cotton, Ms. Sinema, Mr. Burr, 
Mr. Peters, Mrs. Hyde-Smith, Mr. Manchin, Mr. Boozman, Ms. Cortez 
Masto, Mr. Hoeven, Ms. Harris, Mrs. Capito, Mr. Leahy, Ms. McSally, Ms. 
Rosen, Mr. Daines, and Mrs. Shaheen) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, 
Labor, and Pensions:

                              S. Res. 561

       Whereas, beginning in 1991, National Nurses Week is 
     celebrated annually from May 6, also known as ``National 
     Recognition Day for Nurses'', through May 12, the birthday of 
     Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing;
       Whereas, in 2020, National Nurses Week falls within the 
     International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife, as 
     designated by the World Health Organization;
       Whereas National Nurses Week is a time of year to reflect 
     on the important contributions that nurses make to provide 
     safe, high-quality health care;
       Whereas nurses serve on the front lines, risking their 
     lives treating the injured and sick during wartime, natural 
     disasters, and pandemics, including the COVID-19 pandemic;
       Whereas nurses are known to be patient advocates, acting to 
     protect the lives of individuals under their care;
       Whereas nurses represent the largest single component of 
     the health care professions, with an estimated population of 
     more than 4,000,000 registered nurses in the United States;
       Whereas nurses are leading in the delivery of quality care 
     in a transformed health care system that improves patient 
     outcomes and safety;
       Whereas the Future of Nursing report of the Institute of 
     Medicine has called for the nursing profession to meet the 
     call for leadership in a team-based delivery model;
       Whereas, when nurse staffing levels increase, the risk of 
     patient complications and lengthy hospital stays decreases, 
     resulting in cost savings;
       Whereas nurses are experienced researchers, and the work of 
     nurses encompasses a wide scope of scientific inquiry, 
     including clinical research, health systems and outcomes 
     research, and nursing education research;
       Whereas nurses provide care that is sensitive to the 
     cultures and customs of individuals across the United States;
       Whereas nurses are well-positioned to provide leadership to 
     eliminate health care disparities that exist in the United 
     States;
       Whereas nurses are the cornerstone of the public health 
     infrastructure, promoting healthy lifestyles and educating 
     communities on disease prevention and health promotion;
       Whereas nurses help inform and educate, and work closely 
     with, legislators to improve--
       (1) the education, retention, recruitment, and practice of 
     all nurses; and
       (2) the health and safety of the patients for whom the 
     nurses care;
       Whereas there is a need--
       (1) to strengthen nursing workforce development programs at 
     all levels, including the number of doctorally prepared 
     faculty members; and
       (2) to provide education to the nurse research scientists 
     who can develop new nursing care models to improve the health 
     status of the diverse population of the United States;
       Whereas nurses touch the lives of the people of the United 
     States through every stage of life; and
       Whereas nursing has been voted the most honest and ethical 
     profession in the United States: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) supports the goals and ideals of National Nurses Week, 
     as founded by the American Nurses Association;
       (2) recognizes the significant contributions of nurses to 
     the health care system in the United States; and
       (3) encourages the people of the United States to observe 
     National Nurses Week with appropriate recognition, 
     ceremonies, activities, and programs to demonstrate the 
     importance of nurses to the everyday lives of patients.

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