Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 96 Part 1.djvu/110

 96 STAT. 68

PUBLIC LAW 97-172—APR. 16, 1982 Public Law 97-172 97th Congress Joint Resolution

Apr. 16, 1982 [S.J. Res. 67]

To establish National Nurse-Midwifery Week.

Whereas the health and safety of childbearing families is of paramount importance in our society; Whereas nurse-midwives have practiced in this country since coming to the mountains of eastern Kentuck)^ in 1925; Whereas the Federal Government has a long history of support for the nurse-midwifery practice and education; Whereas certified nurse-midwives have demonstrated their ability to give high-quality care to normal mothers and babies throughout the maternity cycle, and their emphasis on health teaching and high-quality care for well mothers and babies makes them a valuable part of the health care team and makes their services increasingly in demand by the public; Whereas nurse-midwifery care has a proven record in reducing infant morbidity and mortality; Whereas nurse-midwifery care has been demonstrated to be cost effective for families and for the Nation; Whereas childbearing families have found nurse-midwives responsive to their wishes for more participatory maternity care; and Whereas the Congress has already recognized the autonomous ractice of certified nurse-midwives under both medicaid and the department of Defense civilian health and medical program of the uniformed services (CHAMPUS): Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Nationfil Nurse- United States of America in Congress assembled. That Congress Midwifery Week. declares April 19 to 26, 1982, as National Nurse-Midwifery Week, and Congress recognizes the unique contribution that nurse-midwives have made to mothers and babies in the United States during the past half century.

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Approved April 16, 1982.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S.J. Res. 67: CONGRESSIONAL RECORD: Vol. 127 (1981): Sept. 25, considered and passed Senate. Vol. 128 (1982): Apr. 1, considered and passed House.

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