[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 124 (Thursday, September 28, 2006)]
[House]
[Pages H7740-H7741]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF INFANT MORTALITY AWARENESS MONTH
Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree
to the resolution (H. Res. 402) supporting the goals and ideals of
Infant Mortality Awareness Month, as amended.
The Clerk read as follows:
H. Res. 402
Whereas infant mortality refers to the death of a baby
before it reaches its first birthday;
Whereas the United States ranks 28th among industrialized
nations in the rate of infant mortality;
Whereas in the United States, infant mortality increased in
2002 for the first time in more than four decades;
Whereas in 2002 the rate reached 7 deaths per 1,000 live
births, which was the first increase since 1958;
Whereas the recent increase is a significant and troubling
public health issue, especially for African American
families, Native American families, and Hispanic families;
Whereas the infant mortality rate among African American
women is more than double that of Caucasian women, according
to a report produced by the National Healthy Start
Association and by a related group supported by the health
department of Allegheny County, in the State of Pennsylvania;
Whereas the Secretary of Health and Human Services has
designated 2010 as the year by which certain objectives
should be met with respect to the health status of the people
of the United States;
Whereas such objectives, known as Healthy People 2010,
include an objective regarding a decrease in the rate of
infant mortality;
Whereas September 1, 2007, is the beginning of a period of
several months during which there will be several national
observances that relate to the issue of infant mortality,
including the observance of October as Sudden Infant Death
Awareness Month and November as Prematurity Awareness Month;
and
Whereas it would be appropriate to observe September 2007
as Infant Mortality Awareness Month: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives supports the
goals and ideals of Infant Mortality Awareness Month in order
to--
(1) increase national awareness of infant mortality and its
contributing factors; and
(2) facilitate activities that will assist local
communities in their efforts to meet the objective, as
established by the Secretary of Health and Human Service in
Healthy People 2010, that the rate of infant mortality in the
United States be reduced to a rate of not more than than 4.5
infant deaths per 1,000 births.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Georgia (Mr. Westmoreland) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Georgia.
General Leave
Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend
their remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution under
consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Georgia?
There was no objection.
Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, in 2002 infant mortality rates increased in the United
States for the first time in more than four decades. There are
approximately seven deaths per every 1,000 live births, and this recent
increase is absolutely a troubling development.
The Secretary of Health and Human Services has designated 2010 as a
year by which several health objectives should be met, including
objectives to decrease infant mortality rates.
Mr. Speaker, the Nation currently observes the month of October as
Sudden Infant Death Awareness Month and November as Prematurity
Awareness Month. It is fitting to observe September of 2006 as Infant
Mortality Awareness Month, and I urge my colleagues to support House
Resolution 402, as amended, to do just that.
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, the term ``infant mortality rate'' is given to the
number of infant deaths during the first 12 months of life for every
100,000 births. In the United States, infant mortality increased in
2002 for the first time in more than four decades. The rate reached
seven deaths per 1,000 live births, which was the first increase since
1958.
American babies are three times more likely to die during their first
month of life than children born in
[[Page H7741]]
Japan, and newborn mortality is 2\1/2\ times higher in the United
States than in Finland, Iceland, or Norway. Only Latvia, with six
deaths per 1,000 live births, has a higher death rate for newborns than
the United States, and Latvia is near the bottom of the list of
industrialized nations, tied with Hungary, Malta, Poland, and Slovakia
with five deaths per 1,000 births.
{time} 1545
Newborn death rates are higher among American minorities and
disadvantaged groups. For African Americans, the mortality rate is
nearly double that of the United States as a whole, with 9.3 deaths per
1,000 births.
The primary causes of infant mortality are premature birth and low
birth weight. A common reason for low birth weight infant mortality
includes respiratory distress syndrome, which may involve a collapsed
lung, low oxygen absorption, and high carbon dioxide level.
All children, regardless of where they are born and regardless of
their race or ethnic group, deserve a healthy start in life. Mr.
Speaker, I have always been told that if infant mortality rates are
high, it means that the quality of life is low. If infant mortality
rates are low, then it means that the quality of life is high.
It is pretty obvious, Mr. Speaker, that we need to do more to deal
effectively across the board with the quality of life for people in our
country, a great Nation, in an effort to make it even greater.
I strongly support this resolution and urge all of my colleagues to
do so.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to my distinguished
colleague from Georgia, Dr. Gingrey.
Mr. GINGREY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I know
I talk slow, but I hope I won't take 3 minutes. But I appreciate the
opportunity.
I mentioned just a moment ago that my specialty was gynecology, but
there is another part to that, and it is the obstetrical part, the
birth and babies part. So it is an honor and a pleasure to be here and
to support H. Res. 402; and I want to thank my physician colleague in
this House and another OB/GYN, Dr. Mike Burgess, Representative Burgess
from Texas, who also practiced OB/GYN for 17 years, for bringing this
resolution; and, also, of course, my colleague from Georgia,
Representative Westmoreland; and my good friend from Chicago, Illinois,
Mr. Davis.
Mr. Davis just said it perfectly. When you lose babies in the first
year of life at the rate of 7 per 1,000 live births and we are 28th
among industrialized nations and we brag about the fact that we have
the greatest health care system in the world, there is something wrong
with that picture. And, as he pointed out, it is even worse for African
American minorities; and the big problem, of course, is lack of
prenatal care. Deaths occur because of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. We
are still struggling to figure out why that occurs, but we clearly know
why prematurity occurs, low birth weight babies that Representative
Davis was talking about, and we can do something about that.
So this resolution is very timely, supporting the goals and ideals of
Infant Mortality Awareness Month; and I just want to thank the
gentleman for letting me put in my 2 cents worth in regard to this
very, very important issue.
Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support the
adoption of House Resolution 402, as amended.
Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back
the balance of my time
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Westmoreland) that the House suspend the
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 402, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the resolution, as amended, was
agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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