Expressing the sense of Congress that public health professionals should be commended for their dedication and service to the United States on Public Health Thank You Day, November 25, 2019.

IV 116TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 73 Expressing the sense of Congress that public health professionals should be commended for their dedication and service to the United States on Public Health Thank You Day, November 25, 2019. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES NOVEMBER 14, 2019 Mr. MCGOVERN (for himself, Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD, Mr. WITTMAN, and Mr. SIMPSON) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was re- ferred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce CONCURRENT RESOLUTION Expressing the sense of Congress that public health profes- sionals should be commended for their dedication and service to the United States on Public Health Thank You Day, November 25, 2019. Whereas the health, security, and well-being of all people in the United States is integral to a functioning democracy and strong economy; Whereas public health research and practice advances each of these core attributes of a thriving Nation; Whereas emerging and reemerging infectious and zoonotic diseases are an ongoing threat to the health of people in the United States; VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:51 Nov 14, 2019 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HC73.IH HC73 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 2 •HCON 73 IH Whereas opioid addiction and opioid-related overdose deaths are devastating communities across the Nation; Whereas antimicrobial resistance affects 2 million people in the United States, and antibiotic-resistant infections lead to the deaths of at least 23,000 Americans each year; Whereas racial, ethnic, and geographical disparities in health and health care pose a significant challenge to the Na- tion’s strength, prosperity, and productivity; Whereas natural disasters and biological threats present a persistent threat to the life, health, and safety of all peo- ple in the United States; Whereas poor air quality, poor water quality, inadequate sanitation, social determinants, and behavioral factors ex- acerbate disease; Whereas almost half a million Americans die each year from smoking, and more than 1,000 cases of acute vaping-re- lated disease have been documented across the country since June 2019; Whereas through research, surveillance and monitoring, pre- vention, health, and other strategies, tools, actions, and programs, public health professionals work to lessen the burden of disease, and in so doing are essential to boost- ing quality of life and extending life expectancy; Whereas public health professionals work tirelessly to prevent infectious diseases from spreading through transmission, and to address both longstanding and emerging global health threats; Whereas first responders who put themselves in harm’s way to protect and defend the public health are an imperative resource to the United States and its citizens; and VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:51 Nov 14, 2019 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HC73.IH HC73 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 3 •HCON 73 IH Whereas public health professionals have time and again shown their value in reducing and abating health and en- vironmental threats such as measles, lead poisoning, trac- ing and addressing food-borne illnesses, and other disease outbreaks, and increasing awareness of healthy lifestyle choices: Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 1 concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that public 2 health professionals in the United States are to be ap- 3 plauded, extolled, and thanked on Public Health Thank 4 You Day for their deeply important contributions to the 5 Nation. 6 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:51 Nov 14, 2019 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\HC73.IH HC73 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS