[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 257 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 257

   Supporting the goals and ideals of a ``Social Work Month'' and a 
                       ``World Social Work Day''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 27, 2023

  Ms. Lee of California submitted the following resolution; which was 
        referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
   Supporting the goals and ideals of a ``Social Work Month'' and a 
                       ``World Social Work Day''.

Whereas social workers enter the profession because they have a strong desire to 
        help empower individuals, families, communities, and our Nation to 
        overcome issues that prevent them from reaching their full potential;
Whereas social workers have worked for more than a century to improve human 
        health and well-being and enhance the basic needs of all people;
Whereas social workers follow a code of ethics that calls on them to fight 
        social injustice and respect the dignity and worth of all people;
Whereas social workers positively touch the lives of millions of Americans each 
        day and in an array of settings, including schools, hospitals, the 
        military, child welfare agencies, and community centers, and in Federal, 
        State, and local government;
Whereas the 2023 ``Social Work Month'' theme, ``Social Work Breaks Barriers'', 
        embodies how social workers help empower individuals, families, 
        communities, and our society to overcome hurdles that prevent them from 
        achieving better health and well-being;
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 Americans 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 help people cope with death and grief;
Whereas social workers help people and communities recover from natural 
        disasters that are increasingly fueled by our warming climate, including 
        hurricanes, droughts, and floods;
Whereas social workers continue to help this Nation live up to its values by 
        advocating for equal rights for all, including people of color, people 
        who are Indigenous, people who identify as LGBTQIA2S+, and people who 
        follow various faiths;
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;
Whereas there is a need to make a meaningful investment in recruitment and 
        retention of the social work profession;
Whereas social workers serve in all levels of government;
Whereas social workers have continued to push for changes that have made our 
        society a better place to live, including a livable wage, improved 
        workplace safety, and social safety net programs that help ameliorate 
        poverty, hunger, and homelessness; and
Whereas social workers endeavor to work throughout our society to meet people 
        where they are and help empower people and our 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 a ``Social Work 
        Month'' and a ``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 founding of the social work profession over a century ago, 
        and continue to do so today;
            (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 
        life-changing role that social workers play.
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