Example Resolutions

Support for Medicaid
Submitted by: King County Chapter

WHEREAS Medicaid is a critical lifeline to health services for low income residents in Washington State, and

WHEREAS people who lose access to Medicaid eligibility experience worse health outcomes and consume more expensive hospital and emergency room services, and

WHEREAS the Federal government has passed legislation allowing states to place unprecedented restrictions on the Medicaid program, now therefore be it

RESOLVED, that the WAFP oppose any policy that would reduce benefits or enrollment in Washington State’s Medicaid program, and be it further

RESOLVED, that the WAFP support efforts that will make the Medicaid system more cost effective.

This resolution has an appropriate title. It was submitted by a chapter. The Whereas clauses give good background as to why this is a pertinent, current issue for the WAFP house to address. (An additional “whereas” stating why the WAFP in particular could or should do this might be useful.) The Resolved clauses contain specific statements of WAFP policy and action. Each resolved clause “stands alone” and does not rely on any language in the other resolved clauses or whereas clauses for clarity.

Stop the Pop!
Submitted by King County AFP

WHEREAS, the rates of Obesity and Type II Diabetes have doubled in the last 20 years and the import of the threat to health has focused disproportionately on teenagers, and

WHEREAS, adolescence is a time of particular vulnerability for the development of Obesity because of the natural increase in insulin resistance associated with puberty, and an obese teen has a 50% likelihood of Morbid Obesity as a young adult, and

WHEREAS, there has not been demonstrated any program, drug or diet that results in significant long term weight loss in adults except for the radical step of Bariatric Surgery with its associated risks and known complications, and

WHEREAS, children are barraged with advertising for sweetened drinks, candy, and other unhealthy food more than ever, and the food industry has been successful in increasing the calories Americans consume by 22% between 1971 and 2000, enough to gain a pound every 10 days, and

WHEREAS, just the average teen consumption of two soft drinks per day, or 300 calories-- calories which are empty, non-nutritive, thereby failing to make one feel full-- is enough to gain 2.5 pounds per month when consumed in addition to needed caloric intake, and

WHEREAS, teens oftentimes will do what they see their peers doing, and the majority of their time with peers is spent at school, and we will never significantly improve our epidemic of Obesity without changing the genesis of this disease in teenagers, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the WAFP adopt a policy recommending that soda pop and sugar-containing sports and sugar-added juice drinks not be sold to children at school from vending machines, school stores or the school lunch program, or at any time during school hours, and be it

RESOLVED, that WAFP send out a policy statement to school boards supporting the elimination of soda pop and sugar-containing sports and juice drinks from school vending machines, school stores, or the school lunch program, and be it

RESOLVED, that the WAFP delegates to the AAFP take a resolution to the Congress of Delegates to encourage and support members in their attempts to remove soda pop and sugar-containing beverages from schools, and provide national assistance with educational materials, talking points, and audio-visual materials based on the best available science, and be it

RESOLVED, that the WAFP develop a toolkit for Family Physicians to work in their communities with their school boards so that sugar-added juices and soda pop not be sold to children at school in vending machines, school stores or the school lunch program, or any time during school hours.

This resolution has an appropriate and “catchy” title. It was submitted by a chapter. (When submitted, the original author’s name was also attached, which was useful.) The whereas clauses explain the problem well, though again another clause which says why the WAFP should take on this issue might be appropriate. The “resolved” clauses each stand alone. They include a policy statement, 2 specific action items for the WAFP and a request that a resolution go forward to the AAFP.

A not-so-good example (note: I took a perfectly good resolution and messed it up to make a bad example!):

Protecting Employees
Submitted by Dr. Jane Doe

WHEREAS, secondhand smoke is bad, and

WHEREAS, workers need to be protected, and

WHEREAS, everyone has the right to breathe, and

WHEREAS, some people support smoke free indoor public places, and

WHEREAS, there might be data that support smoke free workplaces, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the Washington State Legislature, Regulatory and Judicial shoud affirm the authority of local governments to regulate workplace tobacco smoke exposure

RESOLVED, that the WAFP CLGA draft a statewide smoke-free workplace law.

RESOLVED, that the WAFP condemns any attempt to change current laws about this.

The title of the resolution doesn’t really say what it is about. It is submitted by an individual—resolutions require at least 2 signatures to be considered “seconded motions”; resolutions coming from a commission/committee or local chapter are considered to be “seconded”. The whereas clauses do not contain any specific useful background information or any reason why this is a pertinent, current problem or why the WAFP should be addressing it. The first resolved asks someone besides the WAFP to do something. The second resolved asks a specific WAFP commission to do something— the Board of Directors assigns the work of the Academy so the House should just direct “the WAFP” to do things. The third resolved does not stand alone.

FYI, here is the “real” resolution:

Second-hand Smoke and the Work Place
Submitted by: King County AFP

WHEREAS, secondhand smoke is a proven carcinogen and health hazard with no minimal safe exposure level, and

WHEREAS, no worker should be forced to breath toxic air as a condition of employment, and

WHEREAS, everyone has the right to breathe smoke free air, and

WHEREAS, 71% of Washingtonians support smoke free indoor public places, and

WHEREAS, a policy of 100% smoke-free workplace is evidence based “best practice” recommended by the Centers for Disease Control to reduce the burden of disease and death from second hand smoke, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the WAFP supports the Washington State Legislature, Regulatory and Judicial efforts to affirm the authority of local governments to regulate workplace tobacco smoke exposure

RESOLVED, that the WAFP supports the enactment of a statewide smoke-free workplace law.

RESOLVED, that the WAFP condemns any attempt to weaken current anti-smoking laws.

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