Bordallo Supports National Public Health Week

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE—April 3, 2006—Washington, D.C.—

Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo celebrated the launch of National Public Heath Week today with her colleagues in Washington, D.C. Hosted by the American Public Health Association (APHA), this year’s theme, “Designing Healthy Communities: Raising Healthy Kids,” focuses on children and the built environment.

“This year, the American Public Health Association’s National Public Health Week highlights the detrimental effects that the design of neighborhoods and man-made structures like buildings, roads and sidewalks – is having on the health of our nation’s children. Today’s kick-off event honors five Blue Ribbon Communities that have addressed challenges in their built environment and serve as models for other areas in the United States. Representatives from communities across the country that have successfully implemented various solutions are sharing their experiences in town hall meetings across the nation. Their efforts in building safer, more affordable, housing developments that are environmentally friendly will help create healthier children, families and communities,” Bordallo stated.

Congresswoman Bordallo serves as the Health Task Force Chair in the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), which was one of the sponsors of today’s event.

“Many of the points discussed today will go a long way in CAPAC’s pursuit of quality health care for minority communities. Children in underserved and minority communities are disproportionately affected by poor urban planning and lack of safe, nurturing environments,” Bordallo concluded.

Founded in 1872, the APHA is the oldest, largest and most diverse organization of public health professionals in the world. The association aims to protect all Americans and their communities from preventable, serious health threats and strives to ensure that community-based health promotion and disease prevention activities and preventive health services are universally accessible in the United States.
The Congressional Bike Caucus, the Congressional Black Caucus, the Congressional Children's Caucus, Congressional Hispanic Conference, Livable Communities Taskforce, Taskforce on Tobacco & Health, Senator Barack Obama (IL), and Congresswoman Lois Capps (CA), Co-Chair of the School Health and Safety Caucus, sponsored today’s event.

National Public Health Week will run from April 3 to April 9, 2006.

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Contact:  Alicia Chon in Washington, D.C. at (202) 225-1188 or Joseph E. Duenas at (671) 477-4272/4.

www.house.gov/bordallo

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