,,iii  #aafth ,,congress  #b;d ,session 
,s4 ,,res4 #ejj  ,,in ,,the ,,senate    
,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states  ,february 
#ac1 #bjbj,mr4 ,merkley 7for himself1   
,mr4 ,wicker1 ,mr4 ,jones1 and ,mr4     
,wyden7 submitted the following         
resolution2 which was referred to the   
,committee on ,health1 ,education1      
,labor1 and ,pensions  ,,resolution     
,supporting the goals and ideals of the 
,international ,year of the ,nurse and  
the ,midwife1 as designated by the      
,world ,health ,organization4  ,whereas 
the ,world ,health ,organization has    
designated #bjbj as the ,international  
,year of the ,nurse and the ,midwife2   
,whereas #bjbj-- 7#a7 marks the #bjjth  
birthday of ,florence ,nightingale1 the 
founder of modern nursing2 and  7#b7 is 
an appropriate time to reflect on the   
high-quality health care that nurses and
 midwives provide in all settings across
 the ,united ,states2 ,whereas1 with    
approximately #d1jjj1jjj registered     
nurses in the ,united ,states and       

#bj1gjj1jjj registered nurses worldwide1
 nurses and midwives-- 7#a7 represent   
nearly #ej percent of the global health 
workforce2 and  7#b7 comprise the       
largest component of the health care    
workforce in many countries2 ,whereas   
investing in nurses and midwives        
provides great value to communities2    
,whereas a report of the ,high-,level   
,commission on ,health ,employment and  
,economic ,growth of the ,united        
,nations concluded that investments in  
education and job creation in the health
 and social sectors result in a triple  
return of improved health outcomes1     
global health security1 and inclusive   
economic growth2 ,whereas nurses and    
midwives have contributed to major      
achievements in global health1          
including-- 7#a7 the eradication of     
smallpox2 and  7#b7 reductions in       
maternal and child mortality2 ,whereas  
nurses and midwives are known to be     
patient advocates1 acting to protect the
 lives of the individuals under their   

care2 ,whereas nurses and midwives1 in  
caring for patients and their families  
in all stages of life1 serve as vital   
members of the health care workforce who
 improve patient outcomes and safety2   
,whereas better integration of nurses   
and midwives into health care systems is
 reducing primary and maternity care    
provider shortages and improving        
maternal health outcomes2 ,whereas      
nurses promote healthy lifestyles and   
educate communities on disease          
prevention and health promotion2        
,whereas nurses and midwives are        
well-positioned to address and reduce   
health care disparities that exist in   
the ,united ,states1 including with     
respect to maternal health2 ,whereas    
many nurses are experienced researchers1
 and the work of nurses encompasses a   
wide scope of scientific inquiry        
relating to clinical science1 health    
systems and outcomes1 and nursing       
education2 ,whereas nurses provide care 
that is sensitive to the cultures and   

customs of individuals across the       
,united ,states2 and ,whereas many      
nurses can inform and work closely with 
legislators to improve the-- 7#a7       
recruitment1 education1 practice1 and   
retention of nurses2 and  7#b7 health   
and safety of the patients for whom     
nurses care in all communities1         
including rural and underserved         
communities3 ,now1 therefore1 be it     
,that the ,senate-- 7#a7 supports the   
goals and ideals of the ,international  
,year of the ,nurse and the ,midwife1 as
 designated by the ,world ,health       
,organization2  7#b7 recognizes the     
significant contributions of nurses and 
midwives to the health care system in   
the ,united ,states2 and  7#c7          
encourages the people of the ,united    
,states to observe the ,international   
,year of the ,nurse and the ,midwife    
with appropriate recognition1           
ceremonies1 activities1 and programs to 
demonstrate the importance of nurses and
 midwives to patients4