[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 121 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]







109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 121

Supporting May 2005 as ``National Better Hearing and Speech Month'' and 
     commending those States that have implemented routine hearing 
  screenings for every newborn before the newborn leaves the hospital.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 25, 2005

Mr. Coleman (for himself, Mr. Lieberman, Ms. Snowe, Mr. Durbin, and Mr. 
Bunning) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
          Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

               April 29 (legislative day, April 28), 2005

             Committee discharged; considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Supporting May 2005 as ``National Better Hearing and Speech Month'' and 
     commending those States that have implemented routine hearing 
  screenings for every newborn before the newborn leaves the hospital.

Whereas the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders 
        reports that approximately 28,000,000 people in the United States 
        experience hearing loss or have a hearing impairment;
Whereas 1 out of every 3 people in the United States over the age of 65 have 
        hearing loss;
Whereas the overwhelming majority of people in the United States with hearing 
        loss would benefit from the use of a hearing aid and fewer than 
        7,000,000 people in the United States use a hearing aid;
Whereas 30 percent of people in the United States suffering from hearing loss 
        cite financial constraints as an impediment to hearing aid use;
Whereas hearing loss is among the most common congenital birth defects;
Whereas a delay in diagnosing the hearing loss of a newborn can affect the 
        social, emotional, and academic development of the child;
Whereas the average age at which newborns with hearing loss are diagnosed is 
        between the ages of 12 to 25 months; and
Whereas May 2005 is ``National Better Hearing and Speech Month'', providing 
        Federal, State, and local governments, members of the private and 
        nonprofit sectors, hearing and speech professionals, and all people in 
        the United States an opportunity to focus on preventing, mitigating, and 
        treating hearing impairments: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) supports the goals and ideals of May 2005 as ``National 
        Better Hearing and Speech Month'';
            (2) commends those States that have implemented routine 
        hearing screenings for every newborn before the newborn leaves 
        the hospital; and
            (3) encourages all people in the United States to have 
        their hearing checked regularly.
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