[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 195 (Tuesday, November 28, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5641-S5642]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 478--DESIGNATING NOVEMBER 2023 AS ``NATIONAL HOSPICE 
                      AND PALLIATIVE CARE MONTH''

  Ms. ROSEN (for herself, Mr. Barrasso, Ms. Baldwin, and Mrs. Fischer) 
submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 478

       Whereas palliative care and hospice services--
       (1) can empower individuals to live as fully as possible, 
     surrounded and supported by family and loved ones, despite 
     serious illnesses or injuries; and

[[Page S5642]]

       (2) are critical parts of the continuum of supports and 
     services that individuals with serious illness and their 
     families need;
       Whereas ensuring access to palliative care and hospice for 
     all individuals in the United States who are in need, 
     regardless of age, race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status, 
     is important;
       Whereas palliative care and hospice aims to bring patients 
     and family caregivers high-quality care delivered by an 
     interdisciplinary team of skilled health care professionals, 
     including--
       (1) physicians;
       (2) nurses;
       (3) social workers;
       (4) therapists;
       (5) counselors;
       (6) health aides;
       (7) spiritual care providers; and
       (8) other health care professionals;
       Whereas there is a need to increase training opportunities 
     for health care professionals to receive interdisciplinary 
     team-based training in palliative care and hospice;
       Whereas hospice focuses on quality of life through pain 
     management and symptom control, caregiver assistance, and 
     emotional and spiritual support, with the goal of allowing 
     patients to live fully until the end of life, surrounded and 
     supported by loved ones, friends, and caregivers;
       Whereas trained palliative care and hospice professionals, 
     during a time of trauma and loss, can provide grief and 
     bereavement support services to individuals with a serious 
     illness or injury, the family members of those individuals, 
     and others;
       Whereas palliative care is a patient and family-centered 
     approach to care that--
       (1) provides relief from symptoms and stress;
       (2) can be complementary to curative treatments; and
       (3) improves the quality of life of patients and their 
     families;
       Whereas, in 2021, more than 1,700,000 individuals in the 
     United States living with a serious illness or injury, and 
     the families of those individuals, received care and support 
     from more than 5,350 hospice providers in communities across 
     the United States;
       Whereas volunteers continue to play a vital role in 
     supporting hospice care and operations; and
       Whereas palliative care and hospice providers encourage all 
     patients to learn more about their options for care and to 
     share their preferences with family, loved ones, and health 
     care professionals: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates November 2023 as ``National Hospice and 
     Palliative Care Month''; and
       (2) encourages the people of the United States--
       (A) to increase their understanding and awareness of--
       (i) care for hospice patients with a serious illness or 
     injury;
       (ii) the benefits of integrating palliative care early into 
     the treatment plans for patients with a serious illness or 
     injury; and
       (iii) the importance of grief support for caregivers and 
     loved ones during hospice care and after death;
       (B) to recognize the care and dedication of--
       (i) millions of family caregivers; and
       (ii) tens of thousands of palliative care and hospice staff 
     and volunteers; and
       (C) to observe ``National Hospice and Palliative Care 
     Month'' with appropriate activities and programs.

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