[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 299 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 299

    Expressing support for the goals and ideals of National Infant 
                    Mortality Awareness Month 2009.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            October 1, 2009

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

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
    Expressing support for the goals and ideals of National Infant 
                    Mortality Awareness Month 2009.

Whereas infant mortality refers to the death of a baby before his or her first 
        birthday;
Whereas the United States ranks 29\th\ among industrialized nations in the rate 
        of infant mortality;
Whereas premature birth, low-birth weight, and shorter gestation periods account 
        for more than 60 percent of infant deaths in the United States;
Whereas high rates of infant mortality are especially prevalent in communities 
        with large minority populations, high rates of unemployment and poverty, 
        and limited access to safe housing and medical providers;
Whereas premature birth is a leading cause of infant mortality and, according to 
        the Institute of Medicine, costs the United States more than 
        $26,000,000,000 annually;
Whereas infant mortality rates can be substantially reduced through community-
        based services such as outreach, home visitation, case management, 
        health education, and interconceptional care;
Whereas support for community-based programs to reduce infant mortality can 
        result in lower future spending on medical interventions, special 
        education, and other social services that may be needed for infants and 
        children who are born with a low-birth weight;
Whereas the United States Department of Health and Human Services, through the 
        Office of Minority Health, has implemented the ``A Healthy Baby Begins 
        With You'' campaign;
Whereas public awareness and education campaigns on infant mortality are held 
        during the month of September 2009; and
Whereas September 2009 has been designated as National Infant Mortality 
        Awareness Month: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) supports the goals and ideals of National Infant 
        Mortality Awareness Month 2009;
            (2) supports efforts to educate Americans about infant 
        mortality and its contributing factors;
            (3) supports efforts to reduce infant deaths, low-birth 
        weight, pre-term births, and disparities in perinatal outcomes;
            (4) recognizes the critical importance of including efforts 
        to reduce infant mortality and its contributing factors as part 
        of prevention and wellness strategies; and
            (5) calls upon the people of the United States to observe 
        National Infant Mortality Awareness Month during September 2009 
        with appropriate programs and activities.
                                 <all>