[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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