[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 26 (Thursday, March 12, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E361]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                  BIRTH DEFECTS PREVENTION ACT OF 1997

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                            HON. TIM ROEMER

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 10, 1998

  Mr. ROEMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the ``Birth 
Defects Prevention Act of 1997'' (S. 419). I strongly support this 
legislation, which responds to a very serious health care problem in 
the United States today.
  Current medical research indicates that birth defects are the leading 
cause of infant deaths in the United States. It is estimated that 
150,000 babies will be born with a serious birth defect in 1998, and 
that one out of every five of these babies will die. In the United 
States, birth defects affect three percent of all births, and among the 
babies who survive, birth defects are a significant cause of lifelong 
challenges.
  Depending on the particular type of problem and its severity, special 
medical treatment, education, rehabilitation and other services are 
usually required into adulthood, costing billions of dollars each year. 
A recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report indicated 
that the lifetime cost for just 18 common birth defects occurring in a 
single year is $8 billion. However, only about 22 percent of those born 
with birth defects are included in these figures.
  Birth defects can be reduced with a national strategy to direct the 
Centers for Disease Control to collect the information on birth 
defects, to provide funding and support in research at the State level 
and to set up regional centers to deal with birth defects as this 
legislation provides. We should strongly support the efforts of the 
Easter Seals Society, the American Hospital Association, and other 
organizations in developing and directing the Centers for Disease 
Control to work with States and local governments to survey birth 
defects and to bring together the information so that researchers can 
work to educate families about the challenges that are ahead for them. 
I know local groups, such as families with a child who has spina bifida 
can meet with other families and be a great source of strength and 
experience.
  Mr. Speaker, S. 419 is good public policy and I encourage my 
colleagues to support the bill.

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