[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 860 Introduced in House (IH)]
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118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 860
Expressing support for raising awareness about the growing population
of young adults living with chronic health conditions in the United
States.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
November 9, 2023
Mr. Raskin submitted the following resolution; which was referred to
the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee
on Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently
determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such
provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Expressing support for raising awareness about the growing population
of young adults living with chronic health conditions in the United
States.
Whereas due to advances in medicine and biotechnology, many young people with
serious conditions including cystic fibrosis, sickle cell disease,
cancer, cerebral palsy, diabetes, and complex congenital heart disease
are now living into adulthood;
Whereas the overall percentage of children in the United States with chronic
conditions has increased in recent decades, and today more than 26
percent of children in the United States have special health care needs,
defined as having or being at increased risk for chronic physical,
developmental, behavioral, or emotional conditions;
Whereas, between 2011 and 2017, approximately 4,500,000 youth in the United
States with special health care needs transitioned from pediatric care
to adult health care;
Whereas while definitions of ``young adult'' vary, many scholars consider
individuals aged 18 to 34 to be young adults;
Whereas a 2015 National Academies report stated that young adults are a distinct
population from adolescents and older adults, and will benefit from
targeted studies, research, policies, and programs;
Whereas proactive and preventive care for young adults living with chronic
conditions is essential for improving their health and quality of life,
and for reducing the overall cost of care;
Whereas medical research has demonstrated the need for a holistic lifespan
approach to chronic disease management that integrates physical, mental,
and behavioral health;
Whereas former Surgeon General Dr. C. Everett Koop, speaking about adolescents
and young people with chronic conditions in 1989, presciently warned of
the ``barriers they encounter and must surmount if they are to secure
ongoing quality medical care as they make the transition from childhood
to adulthood'';
Whereas the United States health care system often does not adequately address
the unique needs of young adults with chronic conditions, and too often
they remain a largely invisible population in research and policymaking;
Whereas a 2015 National Academies report found that ``the transition from
pediatric to adult providers is confusing and difficult, especially for
those with behavioral health problems or a chronic condition'', and that
the challenges include a lack of training in childhood-onset conditions
among adult providers, poor communication between child and adult
providers and systems of care, and discontinuities in care;
Whereas the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine has found that young
adults with chronic conditions who belong to marginalized groups are
less likely to experience a successful transition to the adult health
care system, including youth emerging from the foster care system or the
juvenile justice system, youth of color, and youth from disadvantaged
socioeconomic backgrounds;
Whereas young adults are the age group in the United States least likely to have
health insurance, with 2022 Census data indicating that 14 percent of
young adults ages 19 to 25 are uninsured and 12.5 percent of young
adults ages 26 to 34 are uninsured;
Whereas young adults with chronic conditions sometimes struggle to find
institutional support for their conditions in educational settings and
in the workplace;
Whereas the mental health crisis among young people has become more severe since
the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, with approximately one-third of
young adults living with mental illness, and young adults with chronic
conditions are at higher risk of secondary mental health conditions;
Whereas young adults with chronic conditions who do not receive high-quality,
appropriate care are at risk for poor health outcomes and missing
important social, educational, and economic milestones;
Whereas young adults who have chronic conditions are at higher risk of mortality
from their illness and from mental health conditions, and national data,
studies, and policy action are urgently needed in this area; and
Whereas when young adults with chronic conditions face barriers to fulfilling
their full potential, it has harmful consequences for our whole society:
Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) supports efforts to increase awareness of the unique
challenges faced by young adults struggling with chronic
conditions in the United States;
(2) reaffirms the importance of research and interagency
data sharing on the population of young adults who have chronic
conditions; and
(3) recognizes the importance of improving quality of life,
health care access, and higher education and employment
outcomes for all young adults with chronic conditions.
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