[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 13 (Monday, February 14, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E125]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[[Page E125]]



                       CHILD HEART AWARENESS DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. CONSTANCE A. MORELLA

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, February 14, 2000

  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, I come before you today to proclaim that 
today, February 14, 2000, is ``Child Heart Awareness Day.'' More than 
32,000 American babies are born each year with cardiovascular defects, 
which translates to 1 out of every 115 to 150 births. To put these 
numbers in perspective, 1 in every 800-1,000 babies is born with Downs 
Syndrome. Congenital heart defects make up 42 percent of all birth 
defects, making Congenital Heart Disease the most common birth defect. 
The American Heart Association estimates that there are approximately 1 
million people living with heart defects in the United States today.
  Today, I join all children and their families who are affected by 
congenital heart defects, in focusing public attention on this disease 
as we look toward the future in finding a cure. Prior to 1960, most 
children with heart defects died within the first year of life. In the 
subsequent decades of the 60's, 70's, and 80's, research produced by 
skilled surgeons and cardiologists led to a variety of different 
interventions, which allowed the vast majority of infants with heart 
defects to survive. However, these medical procedures place an enormous 
burden on the families of children born with congenital heart defects. 
In addition, many of these children who survive infancy still face a 
life of dependency on medications, medical procedures and open-heart 
surgeries.
  I recently introduced legislation to lessen the impact of these huge 
medical bills on American families. H.R. 3325, the ``Melissa Froelich 
Medicaid Congenital Heart Defect Waiver Act of 1999,'' would permit a 
State waiver authority to provide medical assistance in cases of 
congenital heart defects. I introduced this important legislation after 
learning of the plight of four-year-old Melissa Froelich, who has 
undergone multiple surgeries and procedures, including four 
reconstructive heart surgeries, since her birth in 1996.
  As we continue to look for ways to cure this birth defect, I hope 
that the increased public attention on this widespread problem will 
help begin to ease some of the burdens families of children with 
congenital heart defects face.

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