Recognizing the importance of sleep health and expressing support for the designation of the week of March 9 through March 15, 2025, as "Sleep Awareness Week".
H. Res. 235 is a non-binding House resolution recognizing sleep health as essential to overall health, safety, and well-being, and expressing support for designating a specific week—March 9–15, 2025—as “Sleep Awareness Week.” The resolution highlights evidence-based sleep practices, cites data on how many Americans do not get sufficient sleep, and outlines health risks linked to sleep deprivation. It also notes disparities in sleep among Black Americans and references federal and non-profit organizations involved in sleep health. While it urges public health officials, healthcare providers, educators, and parents to promote adequate sleep and encourage Americans to prioritize sleep and discuss it with their healthcare providers, the resolution does not create new programs or funding and is a symbolic expression of Congress’s support. Potential impact includes raising public awareness, guiding health messaging during the designated week, and encouraging collaboration among federal agencies, healthcare professionals, and educators. As a resolution, it does not impose new requirements or authorize spending, but it may help shape public discourse and motivate policymakers to pursue sleep-health-focused policies in the future.
Key Points
- 1The resolution designates March 9–15, 2025, as “Sleep Awareness Week” and declares the importance of sleep health as a public health priority.
- 2It promotes advocacy and promotion of evidence-based sleep health practices to improve the public’s health and well-being.
- 3It cites data from the CDC and the National Sleep Foundation, noting that many adults do not get the recommended seven hours of sleep per night.
- 4It describes health and safety risks associated with sleep deprivation, including impaired memory, higher stress, metabolic disruption, and increased risk of injury, as well as potential long-term risks like diabetes, stroke, heart disease, hypertension, and depression.
- 5It acknowledges racial disparities in sleep, specifically that Black Americans are more likely to have inadequate sleep compared to White Americans, and emphasizes the importance of addressing sleep health through policy.