[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1093 Introduced in House (IH)]
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118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. RES. 1093
Supporting the goals and ideals of Social Work Month and World Social
Work Day.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 19, 2024
Ms. Lee of California (for herself, Mr. Tonko, Mr. Bishop of Georgia,
Mr. Schiff, Mr. Davis of Illinois, and Ms. Garcia of Texas) submitted
the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on
Education and the Workforce
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Supporting the goals and ideals of Social Work Month and World Social
Work Day.
Whereas the Nation's 700,000 social workers are an essential workforce that
promotes the health and well-being of communities across the United
States every day;
Whereas social workers are leaders in addressing the influence of social
determinants of health such as housing, employment, education, and
transportation on individual and communal health and well-being;
Whereas social workers pursue social justice as part of their code of ethics and
have been a leading voice in social change movements for over a century,
combating racism and discrimination in all its forms, xenophobia,
homophobia, transphobia, gender discrimination, religious intolerance,
and the stigma of mental illness, as well as promoting voting rights, a
livable wage, workplace safety, social safety net programs that help
alleviate poverty, hunger, and homelessness, and the rights of people
with disabilities;
Whereas social workers support individuals and communities in a wide range of
settings including hospitals, health and behavioral health care
facilities, nursing homes, community centers, veterans affairs clinics,
schools, child welfare agencies, law enforcement agencies, disaster
relief agencies, correctional institutions, and private practice
settings;
Whereas social workers work in all levels of government to advance the promise
of the United States and the health and well-being of people in the
United States;
Whereas social workers are one of the largest providers of mental health,
behavioral health, and social care services in the United States,
working daily to help thousands of people overcome mental illnesses such
as depression and anxiety, and meet basic needs;
Whereas social workers are on the frontlines of the Nation's addiction crisis,
helping people get the treatment they need and prevail over substance
use disorders;
Whereas social workers play a vital role in--
(1) helping United States veterans and their families access benefits,
secure housing, and cope with stress and post-traumatic stress disorder;
(2) promoting the health, well-being, and dignity of older adults and
their ability to live safely and securely in their own homes and
communities;
(3) supporting the millions of family caregivers across the country who
are caring for loved ones in need of assistance;
(4) helping individuals, families, and communities rebuild their lives
and neighborhoods after climate-related natural disasters such as fires,
floods, and hurricanes; and
(5) promoting infant and maternal health, and keeping children and
families safe from interpersonal violence;
Whereas social workers are a vital source of assistance, comfort, and support
for individuals and families coping with illness, dying, death, and
grief;
Whereas social workers support students and collaborate with parents, teachers,
school boards, and community agencies to promote student success in
schools across the country;
Whereas social workers are a critical source of information, services, and
support in the Nation's rural communities;
Whereas social workers served on the frontlines of the COVID-19 public health
emergency, delivering behavioral health services and helping
individuals, families, and communities cope with the devastating loss of
life, jobs, and safety during the pandemic;
Whereas the 2024 Social Work Month theme, ``Empowering Social Workers: Inspiring
Action, Leading Change'' embodies how social workers are invaluable to
the ever-changing dynamics of the United States;
Whereas social workers enter the profession because they have a strong desire to
help empower individuals, families, communities, and the Nation to
overcome issues that prevent them from reaching their full potential;
Whereas social workers are essential to community well-being because social
workers are trained to help people address personal and systemic
barriers to optimal living, and are employed to effect positive change
in individuals, families, groups, and entire communities;
Whereas social workers advocate for equal rights for all;
Whereas the social work profession is one of the fastest growing professions in
the United States, but still not large enough to meet the demand in the
face of the mental health crisis;
Whereas there is a need to make a meaningful investment in recruitment into the
social work profession and retention of professional social work; and
Whereas social workers are ethically bound to work throughout society to meet
people where they are and help empower people and society to reach the
goals they wish to attain: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) supports the goals and ideals of Social Work Month and
World Social Work Day;
(2) recognizes with gratitude the contributions of the
millions of social workers who have advanced individual,
family, community, and the Nation's health and well-being since
the dawning of the social work profession;
(3) acknowledges the diligent efforts of individuals and
groups who promote the importance of social work and observe
Social Work Month and World Social Work Day; and
(4) encourages individuals to engage in appropriate
ceremonies and activities to promote further awareness of the
integral role that social workers play in making a more perfect
union.
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