[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 602 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 602

    Expressing support for the goals and ideals of National Infant 
                    Mortality Awareness Month 2010.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             July 30, 2010

     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 2010.

Whereas ``infant mortality'' refers to the death of a baby before the baby's 
        first birthday;
Whereas the United States ranks 29th among industrialized countries 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 of the National Academies, costs the United 
        States more than $26,000,000,000 annually;
Whereas infant mortality 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 Department of Health and Human Services, through the Office of 
        Minority Health, has implemented the ``A Healthy Baby Begins With You'' 
        campaign;
Whereas the Maternal and Child Health Bureau of the Health Resources and 
        Services Administration has provided national leadership on the issue of 
        infant mortality;
Whereas public awareness and education campaigns on infant mortality are held 
        during the month of September each year; and
Whereas September 2010 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 2010;
            (2) supports efforts to educate people in the United States 
        about infant mortality and the contributing factors to infant 
        mortality;
            (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 the contributing factors to 
        infant mortality as part of prevention and wellness strategies; 
        and
            (5) calls upon the people of the United States to observe 
        National Infant Mortality Awareness Month with appropriate 
        programs and activities.
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