IV 117TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. RES. 187 Expressing support for the goals and ideals of ‘‘World Hearing Day’’. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MARCH 3, 2021 Mr. THOMPSON of California (for himself and Mr. MCKINLEY) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce RESOLUTION Expressing support for the goals and ideals of ‘‘World Hearing Day’’. Whereas the World Health Organization (WHO) has des- ignated March 3 as World Hearing Day; Whereas the theme for World Hearing Day 2021 is ‘‘Hearing Care for All’’; Whereas World Hearing Day 2021 marks the launch of the first WHO World Report on Hearing, which presents a global call for action to address hearing loss and ear dis- eases across the life course; Whereas approximately 466 million people worldwide, includ- ing 34 million children, have disabling hearing loss; Whereas the WHO estimates that by 2050 over 900 million people—1 in every 10—will have disabling hearing loss; VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:13 Mar 04, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR187.IH HR187 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 2 •HRES 187 IH Whereas approximately 48 million Americans have some de- gree of hearing loss and people with hearing impairments wait on average 7 years before seeking help; Whereas hearing issues are the most common service-con- nected disability among American veterans; Whereas the number of adults in the United States 20 years or older with hearing loss is expected to increase from 44.1 million in 2020 to 73.5 million by 2060; Whereas individuals with mild hearing loss are 3 times more likely to experience a fall, and falls are the leading cause of fatal injury for Americans over 65; Whereas seniors with hearing loss are more likely to develop cognitive problems and experience cognitive decline up to 40 percent faster than those without hearing loss; Whereas untreated hearing loss can lead to depression, anx- iety, and social isolation, especially during the coronavi- rus (COVID–19) pandemic; Whereas uneven coverage of and access to hearing technology and services contribute to significant disparities in hear- ing care; and Whereas timely access to diagnosis and treatment for hearing and vestibular conditions by qualified hearing health care professionals can improve outcomes and reduce overall cost of care: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 1 (1) supports the goals and ideals of ‘‘World 2 Hearing Day’’; 3 VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:13 Mar 04, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HR187.IH HR187 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 3 •HRES 187 IH (2) encourages awareness about ways to prevent 1 deafness and hearing loss and promote ear and hear- 2 ing care; and 3 (3) supports efforts to improve access to hear- 4 ing health care and technology for all individuals. 5 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:13 Mar 04, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\HR187.IH HR187 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS