Whereas the health, security, and well-being of all people in the United States is essential to a functioning democracy and strong economy; Whereas public health research and practice advances each of these integral attributes of a thriving Nation; Whereas public health professionals work to lessen the burden of disease through research, surveillance and monitoring, education, and prevention by developing strategies, tools, policies, and programs, and in so doing are essential to improving quality of life and extending life expectancy; Whereas public health professionals have continuously shown their value in reducing and abating health and environmental threats such as influenza and lead poisoning, tracing and addressing food-borne illnesses, and other disease outbreaks, and promoting wellness by encouraging healthy behaviors; Whereas, as of November 6, 2020, COVID–19, a global health pandemic, has claimed the lives of over 230,000 Americans and the number of persons infected has surpassed 9,500,000; Whereas public health professionals continue to selflessly serve as a first line of defense against COVID–19, providing patient care, uncovering critical information about the virus and strategies for mitigating its destructive impact, and shaping strategies for forestalling and minimizing the damage of future outbreaks; Whereas public health professionals work tirelessly to prevent other infectious diseases from spreading and to reduce the impact of the spectrum of longstanding and emerging global health threats; Whereas public health professionals play a critical role in combating opioid addiction and opioid-related overdose deaths, which are devastating communities across the Nation; Whereas public health professionals are working to combat antimicrobial resistance, which affects 2,800,000 people in the United States and leads to the deaths of at least 35,000 Americans each year