S.Res. 736

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 736 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. RES. 736

Supporting the goals and ideals of National Hospital Week, to be 
observed from May 10 through May 16, 2026.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

May 14, 2026

Mr. Barrasso (for himself, Mr. Whitehouse, Mrs. Capito, Ms. Lummis, Mr. 
Wicker, Mr. King, and Mrs. Blackburn) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

RESOLUTION

Supporting the goals and ideals of National Hospital Week, to be 
observed from May 10 through May 16, 2026.

Whereas, beginning in 1921, National Hospital Day was established by former 
President Warren G. Harding to be celebrated annually on May 12, the 
birthday of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing, as a 
way to honor her role in revolutionizing hospital care;
Whereas National Hospital Day was established following the 1918 Influenza 
Pandemic as a way to foster community trust in hospitals;
Whereas, beginning in 1953, National Hospital Week was established and continues 
to coincide with the birthday of Florence Nightingale;
Whereas National Hospital Week is a time of year to reflect on the important 
contributions that hospital workers make to provide safe, high-quality 
healthcare;
Whereas, in 2026, approximately 6,100 hospitals in the United States provide 
essential and life-saving healthcare every day in a variety of hospital 
settings, including--

(1) 1,383 critical access hospitals, which serve as essential 
healthcare hubs that bring medical services closer to individuals who would 
otherwise have to travel long distances for healthcare, that provide 
healthcare to \1/5\ of the United States population residing in rural 
areas;

(2) nearly 1,700 teaching hospitals, of which roughly 300 are major 
teaching hospitals such as university hospitals or academic medical 
centers, that provide essential training to future medical providers;

(3) 656 non-Federal psychiatric hospitals that are essential partners 
in addressing mental health and substance abuse disorders across the United 
States; and

(4) 170 Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers that are 
uniquely responsible for providing healthcare to more than 9,100,000 
veterans;

Whereas, in 2025, hospitals in the United States provided healthcare to more 
than 35,658,583 admitted patients and in 2025 delivered more than 
3,600,000 babies;
Whereas, as of March 2026, hospitals employed more than 5,759,900 individuals, 
including physicians, registered nurses, and allied health 
professionals;
Whereas non-clinical hospital staff, including sanitation workers, food service 
workers, and many others, work to keep hospitals open 24 hours a day, 7 
days a week, in order to ensure hospitals are always available to 
individuals that need healthcare;
Whereas hospitals, through direct care and community outreach, can provide the 
expertise and resources needed to address the unique healthcare needs 
that exist in rural and urban areas of the United States; and
Whereas hospitals work collaboratively to uphold the healthcare system of the 
United States: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) supports the goals and ideals of National Hospital 
Week, to be observed from May 10 through May 16, 2026;
(2) recognizes the significant role that hospitals play in 
the delivery of healthcare in the United States; and
(3) encourages the people of the United States to observe 
National Hospital Week with appropriate recognition, 
ceremonies, activities, and programs to demonstrate the 
importance of hospitals to the everyday lives of patients and 
communities.
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