[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 13 (Wednesday, February 13, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S746]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE RESOLUTION 209--TO EXPRESS THE SENSE OF THE SENATE REGARDING 
                  PRENATAL CARE FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN

  Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire (for himself, Mr. Helms, Mr. Hutchinson, 
Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Santorum, Mr. Brownback, Mr. DeWine, and Mr. Ensign) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
on Finance:

                              S. Res. 209

       Whereas unborn children benefit from quality prenatal 
     health care;
       Whereas the levels of infant mortality, premature delivery, 
     and low birth weight are exceedingly high in the United 
     States as compared with other developed countries;
       Whereas low birth weight and premature delivery are 
     causally associated with developmental disabilities among 
     children;
       Whereas proper prenatal care can prevent avoidable birth 
     defects;
       Whereas new medical advances, together with early 
     diagnosis, can treat children with a wide range of disorders, 
     including spina bifida, HIV/AIDS, fetal distress, and anemia;
       Whereas fetal surgery is now able to correct many life-
     threatening congenital disorders;
       Whereas pregnant women benefit from quality health care, 
     including physician care, hospital care, and prescription 
     medications;
       Whereas prenatal care can prevent medical and surgical 
     complications that a mother may encounter during pregnancy 
     and delivery;
       Whereas prenatal care can identify and treat a mother's 
     preexisting medical conditions, which may be impacted by 
     pregnancy;
       Whereas an estimated 10,900,000 women of child-bearing age 
     (18 through 44) do not have health insurance;
       Whereas the State Children's Health Insurance Program 
     (SCHIP), created under title XXI of the Social Security Act, 
     expands health coverage to uninsured children whose families 
     earn too much for medicaid but too little to afford private 
     coverage; and
       Whereas, on January 31, 2002, the Secretary of Health and 
     Human Services, Tommy Thompson, proposed a regulation to 
     allow States to include coverage for children from conception 
     to age 19, which would allow low-income pregnant mothers to 
     receive prenatal and delivery care: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) commends Secretary of Health and Human Services, Tommy 
     Thompson, for moving to immediately make SCHIP resources 
     available to States to care for unborn children and pregnant 
     mothers; and
       (2) commends Secretary Thompson for recognizing pregnant 
     mothers and unborn children as deserving of concern about 
     their health and well-being.

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