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 23, 2020.

IV 116TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION H. CON. RES. 124 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 23, 2020. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES NOVEMBER 19, 2020 Mr. WITTMAN (for himself, Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD, Mr. SIMPSON, and Mr. MCGOVERN) 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 23, 2020. Whereas the health, security, and well-being of all people in the United States is essential to a functioning democracy and strong economy; Whereas public health research and practice advances each of these integral attributes of a thriving Nation; Whereas public health professionals work to lessen the bur- den of disease through research, surveillance and moni- toring, education, and prevention by developing strate- gies, tools, policies, and programs, and in so doing are es- VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:41 Nov 20, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HC124.IH HC124 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 2 •HCON 124 IH sential to improving quality of life and extending life ex- pectancy; Whereas public health professionals have continuously shown their value in reducing and abating health and environ- mental threats such as influenza and lead poisoning, tracing and addressing food-borne illnesses, and other disease outbreaks, and promoting wellness by encour- aging healthy behaviors; Whereas, as of November 6, 2020, COVID–19, a global health pandemic, has claimed the lives of over 230,000 Americans and the number of persons infected has sur- passed 9,500,000; Whereas public health professionals continue to selflessly serve as a first line of defense against COVID–19, pro- viding patient care, uncovering critical information about the virus and strategies for mitigating its destructive im- pact, and shaping strategies for forestalling and mini- mizing the damage of future outbreaks; Whereas public health professionals work tirelessly to prevent other infectious diseases from spreading and to reduce the impact of the spectrum of longstanding and emerging global health threats; Whereas public health professionals play a critical role in combating opioid addiction and opioid-related overdose deaths, which are devastating communities across the Nation; Whereas public health professionals are working to combat antimicrobial resistance, which affects 2,800,000 people in the United States and leads to the deaths of at least 35,000 Americans each year; VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:41 Nov 20, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HC124.IH HC124 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 3 •HCON 124 IH Whereas public health professionals play a pivotal role in re- ducing racial, ethnic, and geographical disparities in health and health care that dampen the Nation’s strength, prosperity, and productivity; Whereas COVID–19 has intensified health disparities, dis- proportionately affecting communities of color and cre- ating acute health care challenges in rural areas of the Nation; and Whereas public health professionals are among the heroic first responders who respond to and work to prevent nat- ural disasters and environmental hazards that present a persistent threat to the life, health, and safety of all indi- viduals in the United States: 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 widespread and meaningful contribu- 5 tions to the Nation. 6 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:41 Nov 20, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\HC124.IH HC124 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS