[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 142 (Tuesday, October 21, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10870-S10871]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  CAMPAIGN FOR HEALTHIER BABIES MONTH

  Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I rise today on a very, very important 
mission, and that is to highlight the important work of the March of 
Dimes and its over 3 million dedicated volunteers across America. I 
thank and congratulate them on the most worthwhile of endeavors.
  During the month of October, the March of Dimes Birth Defects 
Foundation is celebrating Campaign for Healthier Babies Month by 
stepping up its efforts to reach more women of childbearing age with 
valuable information which will give every baby a better chance of 
being born healthy.
  These efforts are critical to prevent birth defects, low birthweight 
and prematurity, which are the leading causes of infant death and 
morbidity and also a tremendous cause of heartbreak and tragedy for so 
many families in the United States today.
  As all of us know, the March of Dimes is a national voluntary health 
agency whose mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing 
birth defects and infant mortality. Through its campaign for healthier 
babies, the March of Dimes funds programs of research, community 
services, education and advocacy. To enhance these efforts, the 
foundation has started the March of Dimes Resource Center.
  The resource center provides accurate up-to-date information and 
referral services to the public. It consistently offers high-quality, 
reliable, and prompt responses. It is staffed by highly trained 
professionals. The March of Dimes helps people one on one to address 
personal and complex problems relating to maternal and child health. 
The center provides information on numerous topics in which the March 
of Dimes has been in the forefront, such as the dangers of drug and 
alcohol use and other hazards during pregnancy. And most important, it 
is promoting the use of folic acid by women of childbearing age.
  We know now that 400 micrograms of vitamin B folic acid taken 
regularly by women of childbearing age before they become pregnant can 
reduce by one-half, or even 70 percent, the incidence of neural tube 
defects in babies born in America today. I don't know how many of my 
colleagues know of a family that has been afflicted with the loss of a 
child who was born with a severe and fatal neural tube defect. Many of 
us know good friends who were born with spina bifida and other problems 
which could be substantially reduced if women of childbearing age 
regularly take 400 micrograms of vitamin B folic acid every day.
  The March of Dimes professionals and the resource center answer 
questions from parents, health providers, students, librarians, 
Government agencies, health departments, social workers--people from 
all walks of life. The good people at the March of Dimes estimate that 
through the resource center, they will provide information to almost 
half a million individuals in the first year alone.
  The center is a state-of-the-art facility which can be contacted by 
people around the world through both a toll free number and e-mail. 
March of Dimes is shortened to MODIMES, M-O-D-I-M-E-S. MODIMES. The 
toll free number is 1-888-MODIMES, or by e-mail, the Web site is 
www.modimes.org. I urge people to take advantage of the toll free 
number or the Web site.
  I congratulate the March of Dimes on the success of the resource 
center, and I thank them for the years of dedicated work to prevent 
birth defects and to reduce infant mortality.
  Mr. President, we rank far too high in infant mortality in this 
country. Many, many countries do better than we do because we don't 
provide the care and the attention that expectant mothers need.
  Many of my colleagues in this body know that I have been a long-time 
supporter of a particular priority, the March of Dimes and the Birth 
Defects Prevention Act I first introduced in 1992. It has been passed 
time and time again by the Senate. In June of this year, this vital 
piece of legislation passed the Senate by a unanimous vote. A House 
companion bill currently has over 130 cosponsors. Both bills have 
strong bipartisan support in our body, the majority leader and the 
minority leader both, along with most of the people on all the relevant 
committees.

[[Page S10871]]

The groups endorsing this include the March of Dimes Birth Defects 
Foundation, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the National 
Association of Children's Hospitals, the American Hospital Association, 
the National Easter Seals Society, the Spina Bifida Association of 
America, and numerous others.
  I urge all of my colleagues and people who may be listening around 
the country to urge the House to take up this important legislation and 
pass it this year. As we get to the end of a particular year's session, 
there are always so many things, so many other bills that people think 
are priorities. Let me ask anybody to name me a priority that would be 
higher than helping the families of America of each of our States avoid 
the tragedy of the loss of an infant through birth defects or the 
permanent disability of a child born with birth defects.
  America's families and all of us have waited too long for this 
measure because it can go a long way in preventing birth defects, which 
is the leading cause of infant death. Quite simply, a little prevention 
goes a long way in avoiding family pain and heartache. It is up to 
Congress, it is up to us to seize this excellent opportunity to protect 
our most valuable resources--our children. I urge all of my colleagues 
to pay attention and to take an interest in this vital matter.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor.

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