Recognizing the role of loneliness and isolation in public health.

IV 118TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. RES. 360 Recognizing the role of loneliness and isolation in public health. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MAY 5, 2023 Mr. FLOOD submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce RESOLUTION Recognizing the role of loneliness and isolation in public health. Whereas the United States faces increasing rates of loneli- ness and isolation, impacting the general population’s mental health and well-being for citizens of all ages; Whereas the 2019 Cigna U.S. Loneliness Index data reports 61 percent of United States adults are considered lonely, a rise from 54 percent in 2018; Whereas the 2018 Cigna U.S. Loneliness Index data reports 41 percent of adults age 66 and older report feeling lone- ly, and 79 percent of adults age 18 to 24 report feeling lonely; Whereas the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine reports loneliness and isolation in older adults are strongly associated with greater incidences of VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:00 May 06, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR360.IH HR360 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 2 •HRES 360 IH morbidity, cognitive decline, depression, anxiety, a de- creased quality of life, and an increased risk of early death from all causes; Whereas in an effort to combat loneliness and isolation, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medi- cine recommends raising awareness of the issue and con- tinuing research into loneliness; Whereas the Surgeon General, Vivek Murthy, declared an epidemic of loneliness and isolation on May 2, 2023; and Whereas the Surgeon General released an advisory on the im- pacts of loneliness and isolation on public health out- comes in the United States: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 1 (1) recognizes Americans, of all ages, report 2 feelings of loneliness or isolation; 3 (2) recognizes the impact of loneliness and iso- 4 lation on one’s health and well-being; 5 (3) promotes the awareness of loneliness and 6 isolation and its impacts; and 7 (4) supports continued research into efforts for 8 combating loneliness and isolation. 9 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:00 May 06, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\HR360.IH HR360 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB