[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 144 Introduced in House (IH)]

113th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 144

    Expressing support for designation of April 2013 as ``National 
           Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness Month''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 9, 2013

    Mrs. Roby (for herself and Mr. Holding) submitted the following 
 resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
    Expressing support for designation of April 2013 as ``National 
           Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness Month''.

Whereas congenital diaphragmatic hernia occurs when the diaphragm fails to fully 
        form, allowing abdominal organs to migrate into the chest cavity and 
        prevent lung growth;
Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines congenital 
        diaphragmatic hernia as a birth defect;
Whereas congenital diaphragmatic hernia occurs in 1 of every 2,500 births;
Whereas congenital diaphragmatic hernia affects approximately 1,600 babies each 
        year in the United States;
Whereas the majority of congenital diaphragmatic hernia patients have 
        underdeveloped lungs or poor pulmonary function;
Whereas congenital diaphragmatic hernia patients often endure long-term 
        complications, including pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary hypoplasia, 
        asthma, gastrointestinal reflex, feeding disorders, and developmental 
        delays;
Whereas congenital diaphragmatic hernia survivors sometimes endure long-term 
        mechanical ventilation dependency, skeletal malformations, supplemental 
        oxygen dependency, enteral and parenteral nutrition, and hypoxic brain 
        injury;
Whereas congenital diaphragmatic hernia patients have a survival rate ranging 
        from 62 percent to 90 percent depending on the severity of the defect, 
        the treatment available at delivery, and whether extracorporeal membrane 
        oxygenation must be used;
Whereas congenital diaphragmatic hernia has affected more than 600,000 babies 
        throughout the world since 2000;
Whereas babies born with congenital diaphragmatic hernia endure extended 
        hospital stays in intensive care with multiple surgeries;
Whereas congenital diaphragmatic hernia is as common a birth defect as spina 
        bifida and cystic fibrosis;
Whereas congenital diaphragmatic hernia is diagnosed in utero in only 75 percent 
        of cases;
Whereas congenital diaphragmatic hernia is treated through mechanical 
        ventilation, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation machines (commonly 
        known as ``heart and lung bypass machines'') and surgical repair;
Whereas patients often outgrow congenital diaphragmatic hernia surgical repair, 
        leading to reherniation and requiring additional surgery;
Whereas the occurrence of congenital diaphragmatic hernia does not discriminate 
        based on race, gender, or socioeconomic status;
Whereas the cause of congenital diaphragmatic hernia is unknown;
Whereas the average hospital bill for a congenital diaphragmatic hernia patient 
        is $500,000;
Whereas the total annual cost of medical care for children with congenital 
        diaphragmatic hernia in the United States is more than $800,000,000; and
Whereas the month of April 2013 would be an appropriate month to designate as 
        ``National Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness Month'': Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports the designation of ``National Congenital 
        Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness Month'';
            (2) declares that steps should be taken to--
                    (A) raise awareness of and increase public 
                knowledge about congenital diaphragmatic hernia;
                    (B) inform minority populations in the United 
                States about congenital diaphragmatic hernia;
                    (C) disseminate information on the importance of 
                good neonatal care for congenital diaphragmatic hernia 
                patients;
                    (D) promote good prenatal care and the use of 
                ultrasounds to detect congenital diaphragmatic hernia 
                in utero; and
                    (E) encourage research on congenital diaphragmatic 
                hernia in order to discover its causes, develop 
                treatments, and find a cure; and
            (3) calls on the people of the United States, interest 
        groups, and affected persons to--
                    (A) promote awareness of congenital diaphragmatic 
                hernia;
                    (B) take an active role in the fight against this 
                devastating birth defect; and
                    (C) observe National Congenital Diaphragmatic 
                Hernia Awareness Month with appropriate ceremonies and 
                activities.
                                 <all>