[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 239 Introduced in Senate (IS)]








109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 239

  Supporting the goals and ideals of Infant Mortality Awareness Month.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 15, 2005

Mr. Martinez submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
        the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Supporting the goals and ideals of Infant Mortality Awareness Month.

Whereas infant mortality refers to the death of a baby before it reaches its 
        first birthday;
Whereas the United States ranks 28th among industrialized nations in the rate of 
        infant mortality;
Whereas in the United States, infant mortality increased in 2002, for the first 
        time in more than 4 decades;
Whereas in 2002 the rate reached 7 deaths per 1,000 live births, which was the 
        first increase since 1958;
Whereas the recent increase is a significant and troubling public health issue, 
        especially for African American families, Native American families, and 
        Hispanic families;
Whereas the infant mortality rate among African American women is more than 
        double that of Caucasian women, according to a report produced by the 
        National Healthy Start Association and by a related group supported by 
        the health department of Allegheny County, in the State of Pennsylvania;
Whereas the Secretary of Health and Human Services has designated 2010, as the 
        year by which certain objectives should be met with respect to the 
        health status of the people of the United States;
Whereas such objectives, known as Healthy People 2010, include an objective 
        regarding a decrease in the rate of infant mortality;
Whereas September 1, 2005, is the beginning of a period of several months during 
        which there will be several national observances that relate to the 
        issue of infant mortality, including the observance of October as Sudden 
        Infant Death Awareness Month and November as Prematurity Awareness 
        Month; and
Whereas it would be appropriate to observe September 2005, as Infant Mortality 
        Awareness Month: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate supports the goals and ideals of Infant 
Mortality Awareness Month in order to--
            (1) increase national awareness of infant mortality and its 
        contributing factors; and
            (2) facilitate activities that will assist local 
        communities in their efforts to meet the objective, as 
        established by the Secretary of Health and Human Service in 
        Healthy People 2010, that the rate of infant mortality in the 
        United States be reduced to a rate of not more than 4.5 infant 
        deaths per 1,000 births.
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