Bill Text: GA SR263 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: President/U.S. Congress; urged to provide support to strengthen Georgia's public health infrastructure
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 6-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2009-03-04 - Senate Passed/Adopted [SR263 Detail]
Download: Georgia-2009-SR263-Enrolled.html
09 LC 94
0348
Senate
Resolution 263
By:
Senators Unterman of the 45th, Thomas of the 54th, Staton of the 18th, Hawkins
of the 49th, Hill of the 32nd and others
ADOPTED
SENATE
A
RESOLUTION
Recognizing
the benefits of public health programs in Georgia's local communities; urging
the President and Congress of the United States to provide support to strengthen
Georgia's public health infrastructure; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS,
"public health" is a proven, prevention-focused discipline keeping Georgians
healthy by working in local communities or with targeted populations;
and
WHEREAS,
Georgia's public health programs serve populations in all 159 Georgia counties;
and
WHEREAS,
Georgia's public health infrastructure provides life-saving immunizations;
directs public health programs working to limit the spread of HIV, AIDS, and
other sexually transmitted diseases; and investigates, evaluates, and eliminates
environmental conditions harmful to citizens and visitors; and
WHEREAS,
public health programs are instrumental in ensuring Georgia's children are
healthy by screening for metabolic diseases in infants to prevent long-term
disability, collaborating with schools to reduce obesity among school-aged
children, and providing nutrition education and outreach for pregnant women to
decrease anemia and promote healthy weight gain during pregnancy;
and
WHEREAS,
seniors in Georgia also greatly benefit from the state's public health
infrastructure, which provides dental treatment to those without access to
dental services, develops walking trails and wellness programs, and administers
flu shots; and
WHEREAS,
some examples of public health interventions that have improved health and
safety include the implementation of child safety restraints to reduce the rate
of injuries and deaths, legislative bans on smoking to reduce exposure to
second-hand smoke, improvement of immunization levels through tracking systems
and community education, and required inspections of wells and restaurants to
reduce food-borne illnesses; and
WHEREAS,
the United States spends more than $2 trillion a year on health care (one-sixth
of our economy) with 95 percent of those dollars spent on "sick care" and less
than 5 percent on treating preventable conditions and illnesses;
and
WHEREAS,
public health funding for Georgia has decreased in recent years from $96 to $75
per person, and Georgia ranks 41st among the 50 states in health status
rankings; and
WHEREAS,
cutting preventive services at a time when Americans are forced to reduce their
health care coverage will negatively impact Georgia's population, especially
those who find it difficult to access medical services and may not choose to see
a provider until they are very ill; and
WHEREAS,
Georgia's public health system provides preventive health services in rural
counties that have limited or no other health care providers; and
WHEREAS,
a strong public health system in Georgia plays a critical role in emergency
preparedness, leads community efforts in preventing and planning for
emergencies, and stands ready to respond to a wide array of threats, natural
disaster events, pandemics, and biological and chemical terrorism;
and
WHEREAS,
members of this body work to continue our support for public health programs in
Georgia but assistance through federal funding is needed in the current economic
climate.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body hereby
urge the President and Congress of the United States to create budget
resolutions and appropriations measures that restore the funding needed to
strengthen our nation's public health infrastructure and, in turn, increase
access to public health services that protect the health and safety of Georgians
and prevent the spread of disease.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed
to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to President Barack Obama and
each member of the Georgia congressional delegation.
