[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 476 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]







108th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 476

 Supporting the goals, activities, and ideals of National Prematurity 
                            Awareness Month.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           November 19, 2004

   Mr. Alexander (for himself and Mr. Dodd) submitted the following 
             resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Supporting the goals, activities, and ideals of National Prematurity 
                            Awareness Month.

Whereas preterm birth is a serious and growing problem;
Whereas, between 1982 and 2002, the rate of preterm birth increased 27 percent;
Whereas, in 2002, more than 480,000 babies were born prematurely in the United 
        States;
Whereas 25 percent of all babies that die in the first month of life were born 
        preterm;
Whereas premature infants are 14 times more likely to die in the first year of 
        life;
Whereas premature babies who survive may suffer lifelong consequences, including 
        cerebral palsy, mental retardation, chronic lung disease, and vision and 
        hearing loss;
Whereas preterm birth and low birthweight are a significant financial burden in 
        health care;
Whereas, in 2002, the estimated charges for hospital stays for infants with a 
        diagnosis of preterm birth or low birthweight were $15,500,000,000, a 12 
        percent increase since 2001;
Whereas the average lifetime medical costs of a premature baby are 
        conservatively estimated at $500,000;
Whereas the cause of approximately half of all preterm births is unknown;
Whereas women who smoke during pregnancy are twice as likely as women who do not 
        smoke during pregnancy to give birth to a low birthweight baby, and 
        babies born to women who smoke during pregnancy weigh, on average, 200 
        grams less than babies born to women who do not smoke during pregnancy; 
        and
Whereas to reduce the rates of preterm labor and delivery more research is 
        needed on the underlying causes of preterm delivery, prevention of 
        preterm birth so that babies are born full-term, and treatments 
        improving outcomes for infants born prematurely: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate recognizes during the month of November, 
2004, activities and programs that promote awareness of and solutions 
to the dangers of preterm birth across the United States.
                                 <all>