[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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