[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 134 (Tuesday, October 9, 2001)]
[House]
[Pages H6436-H6438]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   SUPPORTING THE GOALS OF PREGNANCY AND INFANT LOSS REMEMBRANCE DAY

  Mrs. JO ANN DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the 
rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 254) supporting the goals of 
Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 254

       Whereas each year, approximately 1,000,000 pregnancies in 
     the United States end in miscarriage, stillbirth, or the 
     death of a newborn baby;
       Whereas it is a great tragedy to lose the life of a child;
       Whereas babies sometimes live within or outside their 
     mothers' wombs for only a short period of time;
       Whereas even the shortest lives are still valuable, and the 
     grief of those who mourn the loss of these lives should not 
     be trivialized;
       Whereas more than 35 States have designated October 15, 
     2001, as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day;
       Whereas the observance of Pregnancy and Infant Loss 
     Remembrance Day can give validation to those who have lost a 
     baby through miscarriage, stillbirth, or other complications;
       Whereas Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day will 
     provide the people of the United States with an opportunity 
     to increase their understanding of the great tragedy involved 
     in the deaths of unborn and newborn babies; and
       Whereas Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day will 
     enable the people of the United States to consider how, as 
     individuals and communities, they can meet the needs of 
     bereaved mothers, fathers, and family members and work to 
     prevent the causes of these deaths: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives supports the 
     goals of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from

[[Page H6437]]

Virginia (Mrs. Jo Ann Davis) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. 
Davis) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. Jo Ann 
Davis).


                             General Leave

  Mrs. JO ANN DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent 
that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and 
extend their remarks on House Resolution 254.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Virginia?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. JO ANN DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time 
as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution. House 
Resolution 254 supports the compassionate goals of Pregnancy and Infant 
Loss Remembrance Day. I congratulate the distinguished majority leader 
for introducing this resolution, which is so important to millions of 
Americans who have suffered the anguish of a miscarriage, a stillbirth, 
or the death of a newborn baby.
  Each year, around 1 million pregnancies in the United States end in 
miscarriage, stillbirth, or the death of a newborn baby. This is a 
great tragedy for the mothers and fathers involved and for those who 
care for them. As this resolution recognizes, Mr. Speaker, even the 
shortest lives are valuable; and we must not underestimate or 
trivialize the grief of those who mourn these lost lives.
  Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day will promote education, 
awareness, and support for grieving parents nationwide and throughout 
the world. The goal of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day is to 
help families live with their loss and to help others relate to their 
loss.
  All too often, families grieve in silence and some are never able to 
come to terms with their loss. But it does not have to be that way, Mr. 
Speaker. Observing this day can give validation to those who have lost 
a baby through miscarriage, stillbirth, or other complications; and it 
will provide all of us with an opportunity to better understand how 
devastating the loss of an unborn or newborn baby is.
  Through Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day, we as individuals, 
and our communities, can also focus on how to meet the needs of the 
bereaved parents and their families. It is important for all of us to 
learn how to comfort those who must come to grips with such a terrible 
loss, and it would be an opportunity for us to reemphasize the 
importance of working to prevent these deaths.
  Mr. Speaker, 43 States have designated October 15 as Pregnancy and 
Infant Loss Remembrance Day. The House should support the goals of 
these important efforts. I encourage all Members to support this 
resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, first of all, let me commend the gentleman from Texas 
(Mr. Armey) for introducing this resolution. I rise in strong support 
of it.
  When a baby or child dies, there is deep grief for the hopes, dreams 
and wishes that will never be. What is left behind is a sense of loss 
and a need for understanding.
  This resolution, H. Res. 254, Supporting the Goals of Pregnancy and 
Infant Loss Remembrance Day, and H. Con. Res. 415, Establishing a 
National Children's Memorial Day, which was passed last session, serve 
to help bereaved parents deal with their grief and to increase 
awareness of the services and programs that are available to them.
  Many lives are touched when there is a loss of a pregnancy, infant, 
or child. It is estimated that miscarriages occur in 15 to 20 percent 
of all pregnancies. Each year in the United States, about 25,000 
babies, or 68 babies every day, are born still. This is about one 
stillbirth in every 115 births. Approximately 80,000 infants, children, 
teenagers, and young adults die each year from various causes.
  Pregnancy and Infant Loss Day, which would be held on October 15, and 
National Children's Memorial Day, which is observed on December 10, 
will assist in helping to heal and bringing a process of healing to 
families coping with and recovering from the loss of an infant or loved 
one.
  People who come into contact with a grieving family have a role in 
helping to resolve their grief. The role of each person will be 
determined by his or her relationship with the family and the stage of 
grief that family is in. Families will always struggle to cope with the 
devastating crisis precipitated by a loss of a pregnancy, infant, or a 
child. As a community, we should remember, no one can take the pain 
away from a grieving family. Pain is a normal part of grieving. Parents 
often cry, feeling ill or depressed, or have other emotional responses 
months or years after a death. Parents often want to talk about their 
loss and are pleased when others take the time to listen.
  There will always be need for compassionate support for grieving 
families, and I hope that all Americans will take the time to show 
their compassion for families that have experienced the loss of an 
infant or a child on October 15 and December 10.
  Again, I commend the gentleman for such a thoughtful resolution which 
speaks to the needs of people not only all over our country, but all 
over the world. I support the resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. JO ANN DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he 
may consume to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Armey), the sponsor of the 
bill and our distinguished majority leader.
  Mr. ARMEY. Mr. Speaker, let me first thank the gentlewoman from 
Virginia (Mrs. Jo Ann Davis) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. 
Davis) for being willing to stay late today and consider this 
legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I think the legislation has been pretty well explained 
already in its substance and there may indeed be no reason for me to 
speak on it. But, Mr. Speaker, I think that every now and then in our 
life, we do these things that come under the heading of the things you 
do for love. Every now and then we do those things that come from the 
heart. We always pause and appreciate those Members, those colleagues, 
those friends, and that family that take a little time out of their 
lives to share with us those few moments that we might spend on these 
things.
  Mr. Speaker, I believe we could probably find a pretty unanimous 
consensus in America that there is probably no grief that comes to a 
parent that is greater than the grief of losing a child. In fact, this 
Nation has on many, many occasions poured its heart out on behalf of 
parents at the time of a loss of a child; and yet, Mr. Speaker, there 
are some parents who have to suffer this grief and this heartbreak 
almost in silence because their loss is not so recognized nor 
appreciated by those around them. Why the loss is so great is because, 
Mr. Speaker, we who are blessed with the privilege of being mom and dad 
have as a gift from God that little vessel in which we pour all of our 
hopes and all of our dreams and all our prayer.

                              {time}  1915

  And we wonder, when does this begin? Some people believe that maybe 
the magic moment when one begins to recognize that one has a wonderful 
responsibility is when you come home, you have been to the doctor, and 
the doctor says, ``Well, you are going to have a baby;'' that wonderful 
moment of sharing.
  Some people believe that maybe one does not feel the full realization 
until after the child has been born. Someone thinks maybe we have to 
have the little one around the house for a while.
  I think for most parents, and I have had the privilege of enjoying 
parents with their children for a lot of years, and one of the great 
wonders of my life is I am now a Grandpa, most parents someplace along 
the line, very soon after they realize ``We are going to have a baby,'' 
begin the process of building a very, very major part of their life's 
dreams into hopes and plans for that child.
  Those parents oftentimes, all too many times, have the little one 
lost to them as a stillborn, or sometimes perhaps as just a barely new 
infant, with just a few minutes of life outside the womb. I am afraid 
that we do not always appreciate that that loss is as great and as 
heartfelt and as lifelong as if they had had the child for years, to

[[Page H6438]]

see them go through all the many things they had planned.
  So on October 15, we want to join with 43 States, including my own 
great State of Texas, and say to those parents who have had to all too 
many times suffer while feeling alone and not understood, ``We are 
going to take a little time out and we are going to think of your loss, 
and we are going to think of your baby as you know your baby in your 
dreams. We are going to know, along with you, your loss is great, your 
heart is heavy, and it will be with you forever. And yes, we will hope 
for you to have other children, but we will take a moment to say that 
we do understand with you that no matter how many children more you 
might have in your life, those children do not, cannot, and will not 
replace that very, very special baby.''
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  In closing, Mr. Speaker, let me just once again commend the esteemed 
majority leader for such a well-thought-out and well-developed 
resolution.
  Oftentimes when there is great tragedy or a tremendous need or a 
calamity, and we try and determine what it is we can do to help, I 
think in these instances there is one thing that we can all do. That is 
to show, display, and demonstrate a level of understanding and 
sensitivity to those who are indeed experiencing the loss. So a level 
of understanding is something that we can all give.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Mrs. JO ANN DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, once again, I commend the majority leader, the gentleman 
from Texas (Mr. Armey), for bringing this important resolution to the 
House. I also thank the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Burton), chairman 
of the Committee on Government Reform, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. 
Weldon), chairman of the Subcommittee on Civil Service and Agency 
Organization, as well as the ranking members of the full committee and 
subcommittee, the gentleman from California (Mr. Waxman) and the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis), for expediting consideration of 
this resolution.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in 
strong support of H. Res. 254. This bill supports the goals of 
Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day, by promoting, supporting, 
educating, and increasing the awareness regarding grieving parents 
nationwide.
  In 1995, 15.7 percent of pregnancies ended in fetal demise--
miscarriage or stillbirth. In 1996, 983,000 babies died from 
miscarriage and stillbirth. These figures do not include neonatal loss, 
Sudden Death Syndrome, or other causes.
  Many parents grieve alone or in silence, sometimes never coming to 
terms with their loss. Mothers especially suffer firsthand the 
emotional and physical pain and heartache associated with such a 
tragedy.
  Remembering this Day is the right step in helping all Americans 
relate to and assist parents who suffer the loss of an unborn or 
stillborn child.
  I urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 254 to remember the families 
who have experienced the tragedy of losing a child by miscarriage or 
stillbirth.
  Mrs. JO ANN DAVIS. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support House 
Resolution 254, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Petri). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. Jo Ann Davis) that the 
House suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, House Resolution 
254.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof), the rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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