S.Res. 91 — Introduced in Senate

III 113th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 91 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 23 (legislative day, March 22), 2013 Mr. Udall of New Mexico (for himself, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Brown, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Tester, and Mr. Blumenthal) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions RESOLUTION Supporting the goals and ideals of National Public Health Week. Whereas the week of April 1, 2013, through April 7, 2013, is National Public Health Week, and the theme for 2013 is Public Health is ROI: Save Lives, Save Money; Whereas, since 1995, public health organizations have used National Public Health Week to educate the public, policymakers, and public health professionals about issues that are important to improving the health of the people of the United States; Whereas the value of a strong public health system is in the air people breathe, the water they drink, the food they eat, and the places where they live, learn, work, and play; Whereas each 10 percent increase in local public health spending contributes to a 6.9 percent decrease in infant deaths, a 3.2 percent decrease in cardiovascular deaths, a 1.4 percent decrease in deaths due to diabetes, and a 1.1 percent decrease in deaths due to cancer; Whereas routine childhood immunizations save $9,900,000 in direct health care costs, save 33,000 lives, and prevent 14,000,000 cases of disease; Whereas childhood health problems linked to preventable environmental exposures, such as lead poisoning, asthma complications, and developmental disabilities, cost the United States $76,600,000,000 in 2008, and those costs increased from 2.8 percent of total health care costs in 1997 to 3.5 percent in 2008; Whereas the cost of providing dental care for Medicaid-eligible children who live in communities without water fluoridation is twice as high as the cost for providing dental care for Medicaid-eligible children who receive the oral health benefits of drinking water with fluoridation; Whereas a $52 investment in a child safety seat prevents $2,200 in medical costs, resulting in a return of $42 for every $1 invested; Whereas an investment in workplace wellness initiatives reduces sick leave and results in a return of $3.27 in medical costs alone for every $1 invested; Whereas health problems linked to hunger and food insecurity cost $130,500,000,000 annually; Whereas, from 1991 to 2006, investments in HIV prevention averted more than 350,000 infections and saved more than $125,000,000,000 in medical costs; and Whereas, by adequately supporting public health and prevention, the people of the United States can transform a health system focused on treating illness into a health system focused on preventing disease and promoting wellness: Now, therefore, be it That the Senate— (1) supports the goals and ideals of National Public Health Week; (2) recognizes the efforts of public health professionals, the Federal Government, States, municipalities, local communities, and individuals in preventing disease and injury; (3) recognizes the role of public health in improving the health of people in the United States; (4) encourages increased efforts and investment of resources to improve the health of people in the United States through— (A) interventions to promote community health and prevent disease and injury; and (B) strengthening the public health system of the United States; and (5) encourages the people of the United States to learn about the role that the public health system plays in improving health in the United States.