[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 780 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 780

 Expressing support for the goals of ``World Sight Day'' by promoting 
   the importance of accessible, affordable, and inclusive eye care.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 11, 2023

   Mr. Veasey (for himself, Mr. Doggett, Mr. Payne, and Ms. Sewell) 
                   submitted the following resolution

                            October 25, 2023

            Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing support for the goals of ``World Sight Day'' by promoting 
   the importance of accessible, affordable, and inclusive eye care.

Whereas people with vision problems are more likely than those with good vision 
        to have diabetes, poor hearing, heart problems, high blood pressure, 
        lower back pain, and strokes, as well as have increased risk for falls, 
        injury, and depression;
Whereas the majority of people with vision impairment and blindness are over the 
        age of 50 years;
Whereas the Lancet Global Health Commission estimates that the economic cost of 
        blindness and moderate to severe vision loss was $411,000,000,000 in 
        2020 (equivalent to 0.3 percent of the world's GDP in 2018), costing the 
        most in east Asia ($90,000,000,000) and south Asia ($70,000,000,000);
Whereas the overall relative reduction in employment of people with sight loss 
        of working age is 30 percent;
Whereas correcting vision improves educational outcomes, increases personal 
        earnings by 5 percent, increases productivity of the working poor by 
        more than 20 percent, improves literacy rates, decreases rates of early 
        retirement, and results in safer drivers and roads;
Whereas a slight vision impairment can reduce productivity in the workplace by 
        20 percent and accuracy by 40 percent;
Whereas 50 percent of blindness and low vision in children can be easily 
        prevented or treated, most often with nothing more than a pair of 
        glasses;
Whereas globally, at least 450,000,000 children have a sight condition that 
        needs treatment, with 90,000,000 children living with some form of sight 
        loss;
Whereas children with vision loss are 2 to 5 times less likely to be in formal 
        education in low- and middle-income countries;
Whereas glasses are one of the most effective health interventions for children, 
        reducing the odds of failing a class by 44 percent; and
Whereas October 12 is recognized as ``World Sight Day'': Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports the goals and ideals of ``World Sight Day'';
            (2) recognizes the importance of healthy vision;
            (3) encourages the people of the world to prioritize eye 
        health; and
            (4) draws attention to the over 1,000,000,000 people 
        worldwide who have vision loss and do not have access to eye 
        care services.
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