[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 3]
[Senate]
[Page 3209]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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 SENATE RESOLUTION 399--SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF ``NATIONAL 
                    PROFESSIONAL SOCIAL WORK MONTH''

  Ms. STABENOW (for herself, Ms. Mikulski, and Mr. Franken) submitted 
the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions:

                              S. Res. 399

       Whereas the primary mission of the social work profession 
     is to enhance well-being and help meet the basic needs of all 
     people, especially the most vulnerable in society;
       Whereas social work is one of the fastest growing careers 
     in the United States with more than 640,000 members of the 
     profession;
       Whereas social workers work in all areas of our society to 
     improve happiness, health and prosperity, including in 
     government, schools, universities, social service agencies, 
     communities, the military, and mental health and health care 
     facilities;
       Whereas social workers daily embody this year's ``National 
     Professional Social Work Month'' theme, ``Forging Solutions 
     Out of Challenges'', by helping individuals, communities and 
     the larger society tackle and solve issues that confront 
     them;
       Whereas social workers have helped the Nation live up to 
     its ideals by successfully pushing for equal rights for all, 
     including women, African Americans, Latinos, people who are 
     LGBTQ, and various ethnic, cultural, and religious groups;
       Whereas social workers have helped people in the Nation 
     overcome racial strife and economic and health care 
     uncertainty by successfully advocating for initiatives such 
     as the Medicaid program under title XIX of the Social 
     Security Act, unemployment insurance, workplace safety 
     initiatives, benefits under the Social Security Act, the 
     Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and 
     the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act;
       Whereas social workers are the largest group of mental 
     health care providers in the United States and work daily to 
     help people overcome depression, anxiety, substance abuse, 
     and other disorders so they can lead more fulfilling lives;
       Whereas the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs employs 
     more than 12,000 professional social workers and social 
     workers help bolster the Nation's security by providing 
     support to active duty military personnel, veterans and their 
     families;
       Whereas thousands of child, family, and school social 
     workers across the country provide assistance to protect 
     children and improve the social and psychological functioning 
     of children and their families;
       Whereas social workers help children find loving homes and 
     create new families through adoption;
       Whereas social workers in schools work with families and 
     schools to foster future generations by ensuring students 
     reach their full academic and personal potential;
       Whereas social workers work with older adults and their 
     families to improve their quality of life and ability to live 
     independently as long as possible and get access to high-
     quality mental health and health care; and
       Whereas social workers have helped the United States and 
     other nations overcome earthquakes, floods, wars, and other 
     disasters by helping survivors get services such as food, 
     shelter, and health care, and mental health care to address 
     stress and anxiety: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) supports the goals and ideals of ``National 
     Professional Social Work Month'';
       (2) acknowledges the diligent efforts of individuals and 
     groups who promote the importance of social work and observe 
     ``National Professional Social Work Month'';
       (3) encourages the people of the United States to engage in 
     appropriate ceremonies and activities to promote further 
     awareness of the life-changing role that social workers play; 
     and
       (4) recognizes with gratitude the contributions of the 
     hundreds of thousands of caring individuals who have chosen 
     to serve their communities through social work.

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