III 112th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 276 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES September 23, 2011 Mr. Cardin (for himself, Mr. Burr, and Mr. Menendez) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Expressing support for the goals and ideals of National Infant Mortality Awareness Month 2011.

Whereas infant mortality refers to the death of a baby before his or her first birthday; Whereas the United States ranks 41st among industrialized countries in the rate of infant mortality; 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; Whereas according to the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies, premature birth 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 2011 has been designated as National Infant Mortality Awareness Month: Now, therefore, be it

That the Senate— (1)supports the goals and ideals of National Infant Mortality Awareness Month 2011; (2)supports efforts to educate people in the United States about infant mortality and the factors that contribute 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 factors that contribute 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.