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
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
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.