Expressing support for the designation of October as "National Promotoras Month".

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H. Res. 1583 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. RES. 1583

Expressing support for the designation of October as ``National Promotoras Month''.

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IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

September 24, 2026

Mr. Ruiz (for himself, Mr. Carbajal, Mr. Correa, Ms. Ocasio-Cortez, and Ms. Lofgren) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

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RESOLUTION

Expressing support for the designation of October as ``National Promotoras Month''.

Whereas the health and well-being of individuals, families, and communities across the United States depend not only on access to care, but also on trust, education, cultural understanding, and outreach; Whereas promotoras, sometimes known as community health workers, peer educators, health advocates, patient navigators, and cultural liaisons, serve as trusted messengers within their own communities, building critical bridges between historically marginalized populations and the health care and public health systems; Whereas, for generations and often without formal recognition, promotoras have worked in underserved neighborhoods, rural towns, Tribal nations, border communities, and immigrant and refugee populations to address epidemics, environmental health risks, maternal and child health disparities, and chronic diseases including asthma, diabetes, and heart disease; Whereas promotoras deliver education, prevention, and support services in linguistically and culturally appropriate ways, meeting people where they are in homes, schools, community centers, places of worship, workplaces, and agricultural settings; Whereas promotoras are vital to addressing persistent health inequities in rural America, where limited health infrastructure, provider shortages, long travel distances, and digital divides create significant barriers to care and preventive services; Whereas promotoras have demonstrated cost-effectiveness in reducing emergency room visits, increasing preventive care, and improving chronic disease management, resulting in better health outcomes and reduced health care expenditures; Whereas, despite their critical frontline contributions and proven impact, many promotoras remain underrecognized and underresourced, with inconsistent training pathways, inadequate compensation, and scarce professional development and institutional support; Whereas promotoras are a predominantly women-led, multilingual, and multicultural workforce that embodies ``servicio de corazon'' (service from the heart), rooted in lived experience and deep connection to the communities they serve; and Whereas national and regional organizations have played pivotal roles in organizing, training, and supporting this vital workforce: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives-- (1) recognizes the essential contributions of promotoras and community health workers to the health, resilience, and equity of communities across the United States; (2) commits to supporting policies that strengthen the promotora workforce, including sustainable funding, workforce development, and equitable compensation; (3) encourages collaboration between Federal agencies, States, territories, Tribal Governments, and community-based organizations to invest in and expand promotora-led programs, especially in rural and frontier areas; (4) expresses support for the designation of ``National Promotoras Month'' to raise awareness of the invaluable role these workers play in improving community health across the Nation; and (5) directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to transmit copies of this resolution to relevant Federal agencies, public health entities, and national community health organizations for appropriate dissemination. <all>