119-sres334

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 334 Introduced in Senate

    (IS) ]

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119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
S. RES. 334

Supporting the designation of the week of August 25 through August 29, 
2025, as the third annual ``National Community Health Worker Awareness 
 Week''.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

 July 23, 2025

Mr. Wyden (for himself, Mr. Blumenthal, Ms. Blunt Rochester, Mr. Coons, 
 Mrs. Gillibrand, Ms. Hirono, Mr. Lujan, Mr. Markey, and Mr. Padilla) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
 on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

 RESOLUTION

Supporting the designation of the week of August 25 through August 29, 
2025, as the third annual ``National Community Health Worker Awareness 
 Week''.

Whereas a community health worker is a frontline public health worker who is a 
 trusted member, or has an unusually close understanding, of the 
 community served;
Whereas this trusting relationship enables the worker to serve as a liaison, 
 link, or intermediary between health and social services and the 
 community, facilitate access to services, improve the quality and 
 cultural competence of service delivery, build individual and community 
 capacity, and increase health knowledge and self-sufficiency through a 
 range of activities such as outreach, community education, informal 
 counseling, social support, and advocacy;
Whereas community health workers are a unique workforce, recognized in 27 States 
 with a professional certification;
Whereas community health workers are a community-based workforce that builds 
 relationships and capacity for health and well-being in underserved 
 areas;
Whereas community health workers are a historic and diverse workforce that goes 
 back hundreds of years in the United States and reflects the diversity 
 of the country;
Whereas community health workers are known by more than 250 valued and respected 
 titles, including community health representatives, promotores de salud, 
 aunties, and outreach workers;
Whereas community health workers are a cross-sector workforce that connects 
 community members to health care and other social services, reducing 
 barriers to health and well-being;
Whereas community health workers are a proven workforce with decades of research 
 documenting effectiveness in maternal and child health, chronic disease 
 interventions, immunization, oral health, HIV, primary care, and many 
 other disciplines, and have a documented return on investment for many 
 programs;
Whereas sustainable funding of community health workers supports fair market 
 wages and enhanced recruitment and retention of the workforce;
Whereas community health workers fulfill a wide range of roles, including--

    (1) providing cultural mediation among individuals, communities, and 
health and social service systems;

    (2) offering culturally appropriate health education and information;

    (3) offering care coordination, case management, and system navigation;

    (4) providing coaching and social support;

    (5) advocating for individuals and communities;

    (6) building individual and community capacity;

    (7) providing direct service, including basic screening tests, such as 
weight and blood pressure screening, basic services, such as diabetic foot 
checks, and meeting basic needs;

    (8) implementing individual and community assessments;

    (9) conducting outreach; and

    (10) participating in evaluation and research; and

Whereas community health worker networks are statewide, regional, or local 
 community-based organizations, including community health worker 
 associations and coalitions with leadership or membership that is 
 comprised of 50 percent or more of community health workers, promotores, 
 or community health representatives, and whose mission and activities 
 focus on workforce development, mentoring, member mobilization, and 
 advocacy: Now, therefore, be it
 Resolved, That the Senate--

    (1) supports the goals and ideals of the third annual 
 National Community Health Worker Awareness Week;

    (2) recognizes the significant contributions of community 
 health workers to health and social care systems and 
 communities across the United States;

    (3) encourages collaboration at the local, State, and 
 Federal levels to raise awareness of the important role of 
 community health workers; and

    (4) supports the work of community health workers to 
 improve the health of communities across the United States.
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