House Approves Resolution Recognizing Children’s Health Month

On November 13, the House approved, by voice vote, H. Res. 760, a resolution supporting the goals and ideals of “Children’s Health Month.”

The measure contained the following findings:

• nearly one in five children in the United States are overweight;
• children account for 30 million annual visits to the emergency room to receive care for injuries or illnesses;
• asthma affects nearly 5 million American children;
• dental caries is the most common chronic disease affecting American children, and is five times more common than asthma and seven times more common than hay fever; and
• every year since 1928, the president has issued a proclamation designating the month October as “Children’s Health Month.”Speaking in support of her resolution, Rep. Lois Capps (D-CA) said, “A school nurse myself for 20 or more years, I can’t emphasize enough the importance of reaffirming a stronger commitment to provide better access to health care for children…[W]e must take steps to improve healthy environments as well as healthy habits. With this resolution, we applaud the efforts of the many families, communities, health care professionals, and others in our communities, and officials as well, who are taking these steps already; and we encourage in this resolution that states be proactive in promoting healthy living habits [for] children so that they can lead healthy lives as adults. Most importantly, perhaps, this resolution reminds us of what our priorities in this Congress should be. Undoubtedly, our children should be number one.”

  Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI) said, “The overarching goal of designating October each year as ‘Children’s Health Month’ is to draw attention to the need to provide access to health care, insur[e] preventative care, seek cures for diseases and chronic conditions, and promote healthy living habits for all of America’s children. There has been much discussion recently both on the floor and in the media about children’s health care. The objective, obviously, to cover the health needs of children is of paramount concern, particularly with low-income children. ‘Children’s Health Month’ should remind us of that important message.”