[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 8]
[Senate]
[Page 10467]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              NATIONAL HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY WEEK

  Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 550 submitted earlier 
today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 550) designating the week beginning 
     on June 14, 2010, ending on June 18, 2010, as ``National 
     Health Information Technology Week'' to recognize the value 
     of health information technology to improving health quality.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. DORGAN. I ask unanimous consent the resolution be agreed to, the 
preamble be agreed to, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the 
table, with no intervening action or debate, and any statements be 
printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 550) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 550

       Whereas the Healthcare Information and Management Systems 
     Society has collaborated with more than 5 dozen healthcare 
     organizations for almost 50 years to transform health care by 
     improving information technology and management systems;
       Whereas the Center for Information Technology Leadership 
     estimates that the implementation of national standards for 
     interoperability and the exchange of health information would 
     save the United States approximately $77,000,000,000 in 
     expenses relating to health care each year;
       Whereas health care information technology and management 
     systems have been recognized as essential tools for improving 
     the quality and cost efficiency of the health care system;
       Whereas Congress has made a commitment to leveraging the 
     benefits of the health care information technology and 
     management systems, including through the adoption of 
     electronic medical records that will help to reduce costs and 
     improve quality while ensuring privacy of patients and 
     codification of the Office of the National Coordinator for 
     Health Information Technology;
       Whereas Congress has emphasized improving the quality and 
     safety of delivery of health care in the United States; and
       Whereas since 2006, organizations across the United States 
     have united to support National Health Information Technology 
     Week to improve public awareness of the benefits of improved 
     quality and cost efficiency of the health care system that 
     the implementation of health information technology could 
     achieve: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates the week beginning on June 14, 2010, and 
     ending on June 18, 2010, as ``National Health Information 
     Technology Week'';
       (2) recognizes the value of information technology and 
     management systems in transforming health care for the people 
     of the United States; and
       (3) calls on all interested parties to promote the use of 
     information technology and management systems to transform 
     the health care system in the United States.

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