[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 134 (Friday, November 19, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S11653]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
PREMATURITY AWARENESS MONTH
Mr. SESSIONS. I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the
immediate consideration of S. Res. 476, introduced earlier today by
Senator Alexander.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
The legislative clerk read as follows:
A resolution (S. Res. 476) supporting the goals, activities
and ideals of National Prematurity Awareness Month.
There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the
resolution.
prematurity awareness month
Mr. ALEXANDER. Mr. President, I rise today to discuss the increasing
number of babies born too early. The March of Dimes has designated
November as Prematurity Awareness Month to draw attention to the
growing, costly and serious public health problem of preterm birth. My
colleague, Senator Dodd, and I have introduced a resolution supporting
this effort and look forward to swift approval in the Senate.
Nationwide, over 480,0000 babies were born prematurely in 2002. In my
own State of Tennessee, one of every seven babies born in 2002 was born
preterm, and the rate of preterm births in Tennessee has risen more
than 9 percent since 1992.
Earlier this year, the Subcommittee on Children and Families, which I
chair, held a hearing to learn about the devastating effects of preterm
birth and what our government agencies and private organizations are
doing to combat this crisis. We heard the inspirational story of Kelley
Bolton Jordan and her daughter, Whitney, from Memphis, Tennessee.
Whitney was born 3\1/2\ months early and weighed just 1 lb. 10 oz.
Imagine a leg so small it could fit through a wedding ring.
Whitney spent 3 grueling months in intensive care. She is now a
healthy, happy 3 year-old and has no repercussions from her early
birth--other babies are not as lucky. Preterm birth takes a severe toll
on America's families and strains our health care system. Each year,
100,000 children develop health problems because of their early births,
including cerebral palsy and vision and hearing loss. And preterm birth
is the leading cause of death in the first month of life.
With over half the causes of preterm birth unknown, more research is
desperately needed. That's why I plan to re-introduce ``the PREEMIE
Act'' and hope that the Senate can pass this legislation in the 109th
Congress.
I commend the March of Dimes for its dedication in working toward a
day when babies and their families no longer have to face the
devastating consequences of premature birth. If we work together to
focus public and private resources on this problem, we can decrease the
number of premature births in every state.
Mr. DODD. Mr. President, I draw attention to the growing problem of
premature birth. As a sponsor of the PREEMIE Act, with my colleague
Senator Alexander, I have heard the stories about the strain a
premature birth places on families, as well as the lifelong health
problems many preterm children face.
Nationwide, 1 out of every 8 babies is born too early. In my own
State of Connecticut, 1 of every 10 babies born in 2002 was preterm and
the rate of preterm births in Connecticut has risen more than 11% since
1992.
Senator Alexander and I are introducing a resolution to raise
awareness of this public health crisis. As part of their 5-year
campaign designed to use the combined power of awareness, education,
and research to significantly decrease the number of premature births
in the United States, the March of Dimes has designated November as
Prematurity Awareness Month. I am pleased to be supporting this
campaign.
I urge my colleagues to find out about the toll of premature births
in their states and to work together to solve this problem. I hope we
can move the PREEMIE Act quickly in the 109th Congress in order to
expand the Government's efforts to reduce the rates of preterm birth.
Mr. SESSIONS. I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed
to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid upon
the table and any statements relating to this matter be printed in the
Record.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The resolution (S. Res. 476) was agreed to.
The preamble was agreed to.
The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:
S. Res. 476
Whereas preterm birth is a serious and growing problem;
Whereas, between 1982 and 2002, the rate of preterm birth
increased 27 percent;
Whereas, in 2002, more than 480,000 babies were born
prematurely in the United States;
Whereas 25 percent of all babies that die in the first
month of life were born preterm;
Whereas premature infants are 14 times more likely to die
in the first year of life;
Whereas premature babies who survive may suffer lifelong
consequences, including cerebral palsy, mental retardation,
chronic lung disease, and vision and hearing loss;
Whereas preterm birth and low birthweight are a significant
financial burden in health care;
Whereas, in 2002, the estimated charges for hospital stays
for infants with a diagnosis of preterm birth or low
birthweight were $15,500,000,000, a 12 percent increase since
2001;
Whereas the average lifetime medical costs of a premature
baby are conservatively estimated at $500,000;
Whereas the cause of approximately half of all preterm
births is unknown;
Whereas women who smoke during pregnancy are twice as
likely as women who do not smoke during pregnancy to give
birth to a low birthweight baby, and babies born to women who
smoke during pregnancy weigh, on average, 200 grams less than
babies born to women who do not smoke during pregnancy; and
Whereas to reduce the rates of preterm labor and delivery
more research is needed on the underlying causes of preterm
delivery, prevention of preterm birth so that babies are born
full-term, and treatments improving outcomes for infants born
prematurely: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate recognizes during the month of
November, 2004, activities and programs that promote
awareness of and solutions to the dangers of preterm birth
across the United States.
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