III 109th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 239 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

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.