H.Res. 1337

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1337 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. RES. 1337

Recognizing the contributions of academic medicine and observing 
Academic Medicine Week from June 8 through 12, 2026.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

June 3, 2026

Ms. Castor of Florida (for herself and Mr. Fitzpatrick) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and 
Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

RESOLUTION

Recognizing the contributions of academic medicine and observing 
Academic Medicine Week from June 8 through 12, 2026.

Whereas the week of June 8 through 12, 2026, is designated Academic Medicine 
Week to recognize the contributions of academic medicine to medical 
research, clinical care, medical education, and community health 
nationwide;
Whereas academic medicine--the Nation's medical schools, academic health 
systems, teaching hospitals, and resident physicians, faculty 
physicians, students, and medical researchers--serves a vital and unique 
role in the United States health care system;
Whereas these providers and institutions, including the AAMC (Association of 
American Medical Colleges) network of nearly 500 academic health systems 
and teaching hospitals and 163 medical schools, focus on 4 missions:

(1) educating and training the nation's health care workforce;

(2) conducting groundbreaking medical research;

(3) delivering cutting-edge patient care, including care for the 
sickest and most complex patients; and

(4) collaborating with communities to improve the health of people 
everywhere, while also serving as vital economic engines;

Whereas the AAMC is celebrating 150 years of leading and serving the United 
States' medical schools, academic health systems and teaching hospitals, 
and individuals across academic medicine--including more than 210,000 
full-time faculty members, 100,000 medical students, 162,000 resident 
physicians, and 60,000 graduate students and postdoctoral researchers in 
the biomedical sciences;
Whereas for 150 years, the AAMC has served as the national voice and advocate 
for academic medicine by leading and serving its member institutions to 
train the next generation of doctors and scientists, deliver excellent 
care, foster breakthroughs to save lives, and prepare for health crises;
Whereas the unique environment at AAMC-member institutions is essential to 
advancing lifesaving medical research, training the next generation of 
physicians and health care professionals, and caring for patients in 
every community nationwide;
Whereas AAMC-member institutions drive medical research and innovation, and the 
unique partnership between the National Institutes of Health (``NIH'') 
and the Nation's medical schools and teaching hospitals, forged just 
after World War II, deepens the understanding of the mechanisms of human 
health and disease, leading to advancements in treatments, therapies, 
and medical technologies that bring hope to patients and families;
Whereas approximately 60 percent of all NIH extramural research is conducted by 
AAMC-member institutions;
Whereas AAMC-member institutions and the Department of Veterans Affairs (``VA'') 
have forged and maintained an 80-year partnership, built on the shared 
missions of strengthening medical education, health care, and medical 
research, which has improved the lives of veterans and improved health 
equity for veterans by ensuring they have access to advanced health 
care;
Whereas through this historic collaboration, the VA has become the largest 
single provider of medical training in the country, with approximately 
70 percent of all physicians in the United States completing at least 
part of their training in VA facilities;
Whereas America's academic health systems and teaching hospitals are a vital 
part of the nation's health care infrastructure and are where expert 
patient care and state-of-the-art medical innovation connect to save 
lives;
Whereas AAMC-member academic health systems and teaching hospitals provide 32% 
of all hospital-based charity care; 22% of Medicare inpatient days; 29% 
of Medicaid inpatient days; 100% of all National Cancer Institute-
designated comprehensive cancer centers; 56% of all level-one trauma 
centers; and 65% of all pediatric intensive care unit beds;
Whereas the AAMC continues to project that physician demand will grow faster 
than the supply (primarily driven by a growing, aging United States 
population), leading to a persistent physician shortage?, so action is 
needed now to address the physician shortage, AAMC-member teaching 
health systems and hospitals train 70 percent of medical residents;
Whereas a key element of addressing the physician shortage and ensuring access 
to care for all communities is strengthening the physician workforce and 
increasing Medicare support for graduate medical education, which will 
help patients receive care when they need it, particularly in rural and 
other underserved areas;
Whereas continued support is needed for the Health Resources and Services 
Administration Title VII health professions and Title VIII nursing 
workforce development programs--which invest in K-16 health outreach and 
education programs through partnerships between health professions 
schools and local community-based organizations--that are critical to 
addressing workforce shortages by training and supporting a robust 
health care workforce, including in rural and other underserved areas, 
through scholarships, mentorship, community-based and interdisciplinary 
training, and well-being programs;
Whereas the perspectives of learners have been represented and augmented through 
the AAMC on important issues--including pathways to careers in medicine, 
STEM education, student loans, faculty mentorship, and training 
programs--and bipartisan approaches to strengthening medical education 
continues;
Whereas AAMC-member institutions equip medical students with the knowledge, 
skills, and behaviors to positively impact patients, health care 
organizations, and society generally by improving the clinical learning 
environment, health care quality, health outcomes, and patient 
satisfaction;
Whereas medical schools, academic health systems and teaching hospitals 
collaborate across rural, urban, and underserved areas to address the 
physician shortage by building the physician workforce and strengthening 
the pathway for international physicians who are willing to practice in 
underserved areas after completing residency training;
Whereas AAMC-member institutions support the physician workforce by expanding 
training for medical students, especially in communities with health 
professions shortages;
Whereas medical schools, academic health systems, and teaching hospitals 
contributed in 2019 more than $728 billion in gross domestic product 
(``GDP''), 3.2% of the United States' GDP, an economic impact comparable 
in size to other important sectors such as transportation, warehousing, 
and food services;
Whereas AAMC-member institutions generate approximately $2,218 in economic 
impact per person and support more than 7.1 million jobs in the United 
States across multiple industries, which was approximately 4.4% of the 
2019 labor force nationwide, and paid an average of more than $68,000 in 
wages, salaries, and benefits per job;
Whereas academic medicine's four mission areas are so deeply interconnected that 
inadequate financing or reductions in funding for one mission area limit 
the effectiveness of the others;
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) supports the designation of ``Academic Medicine Week'';
(2) affirms the unique and critical impact of academic 
medicine on patients and communities nationwide;
(3) recognizes the importance of ensuring strong federal 
support for programs that support academic medicine's 
leadership in medical research, cutting-edge patient care, 
innovative medical education, and critical community 
collaborations; and
(4) encourages the people of the United States to recognize 
the critical role of the Nation's medical schools, academic 
health systems and teaching hospitals in improving the health 
of all.
<all>