Dianne Feinstein: “today Senator Craig and I are introducing the ``Building Health Promotion and Disease Prevention into the National…”

“today Senator Craig and I are introducing the ``Building Health Promotion and Disease Prevention into the National Agenda Resolution of 2001.'' This resolution expresses the sense of Congress that the federal government should do two things: (1) Support scientific research on health promotion and (2) explore ways in which the government can develop a national policy to integrate lifestyle improvement programs into our health care, schools, families and communities. This resolution is supported by a coalition of 47 organizations, including the Wellness Council of America, the American Journal of Health Promotion, the American Preventive Medical Association, the National Alliance for Hispanic Health, the National Center for Health Education, Partnership for Prevention, and the Society for Prevention Research. According to the American Journal of Health Promotion, health promotion is ``the science and art of helping people change their lifestyle to move toward a state of optimal health.'' Optimal health is defined as ``a balance of physical, emotional, social, spiritual and intellectual health.'' In this day and age of scientific breakthroughs and increased knowledge of medical science and health, American health care tends to emphasize curative treatments, rather than preventive measures and health promotion.”