[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 319 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 319

 Supporting the goals, activities, and ideals of Prematurity Awareness 
                                 Month.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            November 1, 2017

    Mr. Brown (for himself and Mr. Isakson) submitted the following 
 resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, 
                          Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Supporting the goals, activities, and ideals of Prematurity Awareness 
                                 Month.

Whereas, according to the World Health Organization, complications of preterm 
        birth is now the number one killer of children under 5 years of age 
        worldwide;
Whereas 1,100,000 children die every year due to complications of preterm birth;
Whereas preterm birth is a global problem that exacts a harsh toll on families 
        from all parts of society in every country;
Whereas there are stark inequalities in the survival rates of preterm babies 
        born around the world;
Whereas complications from preterm birth have lifelong consequences for the 
        health, growth, and development of infants;
Whereas up to 75 percent of deaths resulting from preterm birth worldwide can be 
        prevented through proven low-cost interventions;
Whereas countries can improve maternal health and the survival rate of babies 
        born prematurely by making strategic investments in health care systems 
        to ensure access to high-quality adolescent and pre-pregnancy care, 
        prenatal care, childbirth services, emergency obstetric care, postnatal 
        care, and comprehensive care for affected newborns;
Whereas according to data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and 
        Prevention, preterm-related causes are the leading contributors to 
        infant death in the United States, accounting for more than \1/3\ of 
        infant deaths;
Whereas while the preterm birth rate in the United States decreased from a peak 
        of 12.8 percent in 2006, the preterm birth rate of 9.8 percent in 2016 
        is still too high;
Whereas there are significant racial and ethnic disparities in preterm birth 
        rates among many communities in the United States;
Whereas the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies estimated in 2006 
        that the annual societal economic cost associated with preterm birth in 
        the United States was $26,200,000,000;
Whereas many preterm births can be prevented through evidence-based public 
        health programs focused on reducing risk factors such as tobacco use, 
        inadequate birth spacing, and early elective deliveries; and
Whereas, in the United States and around the world, November is recognized as 
        Prematurity Awareness Month: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) supports the recognition of Prematurity Awareness 
        Month;
            (2) supports efforts at home and abroad--
                    (A) to reduce the impact of preterm births by 
                improving maternal health during and after pregnancy; 
                and
                    (B) to advance the care and treatment of infants 
                born preterm;
            (3) honors individuals working domestically and 
        internationally to reduce preterm births; and
            (4) expresses the intent of the Senate to promote evidence-
        based prevention interventions to prevent preterm birth and 
        improve outcomes for affected infants.
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