[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 204 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 204

  Designating March 31, 2010, as ``National Congenital Diaphragmatic 
                        Hernia Awareness Day''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             June 24, 2009

 Mr. Vitter submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
                     the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Designating March 31, 2010, as ``National Congenital Diaphragmatic 
                        Hernia Awareness Day''.

Whereas the congenital diaphragmatic hernia birth defect is one of the most 
        prevalent, life-threatening birth defects in the United States;
Whereas the congenital diaphragmatic hernia birth defect is a severe, often 
        deadly birth defect that has a devastating impact, in both human and 
        economic terms, affecting equally people of all races, sexes, 
        nationalities, geographic locations, and income levels;
Whereas the congenital diaphragmatic hernia birth defect occurs in 1 in every 
        2,000 live births in the United States and accounts for 8 percent of all 
        major congenital anomalies;
Whereas, in 2004, there were approximately 4,115,590 live births in the United 
        States, and in approximately 1,800 of those live births, the congenital 
        diaphragmatic hernia birth defect occurred, causing countless additional 
        friends, loved ones, spouses, and caregivers to shoulder the physical, 
        emotional, and financial burdens the congenital diaphragmatic hernia 
        birth defect causes;
Whereas there is no genetic indicator or any other indicator available to 
        predict the occurrence of the congenital diaphragmatic hernia birth 
        defect, other than through the performance of an ultrasound during 
        pregnancy;
Whereas there is no consistent treatment or cure for the congenital 
        diaphragmatic hernia birth defect;
Whereas the congenital diaphragmatic hernia birth defect is a leading cause of 
        neonatal death in the United States;
Whereas 50 percent of the patients who do survive the congenital diaphragmatic 
        hernia birth defect have residual health issues, resulting in a severe 
        strain on pediatric medical resources and on the delivery of health care 
        services in the United States;
Whereas proactive diagnosis and the appropriate management and care of fetuses 
        afflicted with the congenital diaphragmatic hernia birth defect minimize 
        the incidence of emergency situations resulting from the birth defect 
        and dramatically improve survival rates among people with the birth 
        defect;
Whereas neonatal medical care is one of the most expensive types of medical care 
        provided in the United States and patients with the congenital 
        diaphragmatic hernia birth defect stay in intensive care for 
        approximately 60 to 90 days, costing millions of dollars, utilizing 
        blood from local blood banks, and requiring the most technically 
        advanced medical care;
Whereas the congenital diaphragmatic hernia birth defect is a birth defect that 
        causes damage to the lungs and the cardiovascular system;
Whereas patients with the congenital diaphragmatic hernia birth defect may have 
        long-term health issues such as respiratory insufficiency, 
        gastroesophageal reflux, poor growth, neurodevelopmental delay, behavior 
        problems, hearing loss, hernia recurrence, and orthopedic deformities;
Whereas the severity of the symptoms and outcomes of the congenital 
        diaphragmatic hernia birth defect and the limited public awareness of 
        the birth defect cause many patients to receive substandard care, to 
        forego regular visits to physicians, and not to receive good health or 
        therapeutic management that would help avoid serious complications in 
        the future, compromising the quality of life of those patients;
Whereas people suffering from chronic, life-threatening diseases and birth 
        defects, similar to the congenital diaphragmatic hernia birth defect, 
        and family members of those people are predisposed to depression and the 
        resulting consequences of depression because of anxiety over the 
        possible pain, suffering, and premature death that people with such 
        diseases and birth defects may face;
Whereas the Senate and taxpayers of the United States want treatments and cures 
        for disease and hope to see results from investments in research 
        conducted by the National Institutes of Health and from initiatives such 
        as the National Institutes of Health Roadmap to the Future;
Whereas the congenital diaphragmatic hernia birth defect is an example of how 
        collaboration, technological innovation, scientific momentum, and 
        public-private partnerships can generate therapeutic interventions that 
        directly benefit the people and families suffering from the congenital 
        diaphragmatic hernia birth defect;
Whereas collaboration, technological innovation, scientific momentum, and 
        public-private partnerships can save billions of Federal dollars under 
        Medicare, Medicaid, and other programs for therapies, and early 
        intervention will increase survival rates among people suffering from 
        the congenital diaphragmatic hernia birth defect;
Whereas improvements in diagnostic technology, the expansion of scientific 
        knowledge, and better management of care for patients with the 
        congenital diaphragmatic hernia birth defect already have increased 
        survival rates in some cases;
Whereas there is still a need for more research and increased awareness of the 
        congenital diaphragmatic hernia birth defect and for an increase in 
        funding for that research in order to provide a better quality of life 
        to survivors of the congenital diaphragmatic hernia birth defect, and 
        more optimism for the families and health care professionals who work 
        with children with the birth defect;
Whereas there are thousands of volunteers nationwide dedicated to expanding 
        research, fostering public awareness and understanding, educating 
        patients and their families about the congenital diaphragmatic hernia 
        birth defect to improve their treatment and care, providing appropriate 
        moral support, and encouraging people to become organ donors; and
Whereas volunteers engage in an annual national awareness event held on March 
        31, making that day an appropriate time to recognize National Congenital 
        Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness Day: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) designates March 31, 2010, as ``National Congenital 
        Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness Day'';
            (2) supports the goals and ideals of a national day to 
        raise public awareness and understanding of the congenital 
        diaphragmatic hernia birth defect;
            (3) recognizes the need for additional research into a cure 
        for the congenital diaphragmatic hernia birth defect; and
            (4) encourages the people of the United States and 
        interested groups to support National Congenital Diaphragmatic 
        Hernia Awareness Day through appropriate ceremonies and 
        activities, to promote public awareness of the congenital 
        diaphragmatic hernia birth defect, and to foster understanding 
        of the impact of the disease on patients and their families.
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