[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 124 (Thursday, September 28, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1883]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       HONORING OCTOBER AS NATIONAL SPINA BIFIDA AWARENESS MONTH

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                        HON. ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 28, 2006

  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate October as 
National Spina Bifida Awareness Month. There are an estimated 70,000 
people in the United States who are affected by Spina Bifida, the most 
common, permanently disabling birth defect. Of particular concern is 
that members of the Hispanic community are disproportionately at-risk 
of a Spina Bifida pregnancy. The rate of Spina Bifida in the Hispanic 
population is almost seven in 10,000 births, nearly 40 percent higher 
than the non-Hispanic rate. However, fortunately there are steps that 
can be taken to reduce that risk.
  An important goal of National Spina Bifida Awareness Month is 
increasing awareness and consumption of--a simple vitamin that can help 
reduce the risk of Spina Bifida. Recent studies have shown that if all 
women of childbearing age were to consume 400 micrograms of folic acid 
daily prior to becoming pregnant and throughout the first trimester of 
pregnancy, the incidence of Spina Bifida could be reduced by up to 70 
percent. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
(CDC) and the Spina Bifida Association (SBA), all women of child-
bearing age should consume a vitamin every day which provides them with 
400 micrograms of folic acid. Multi-vitamins with folic acid or folic 
acid supplements can be found in the local grocery, pharmacy, or 
discount store.
  Unfortunately at the current time, imported corn flours--unlike most 
wheat flour and cereal products--are not enriched with folic acid. 
Which means a majority of the corn-based products sold in the United 
States and consumed by the Hispanic community does not contain this 
important vitamin. To address this disparity and ensure that the foods 
consumed by the Hispanic community in the United States are enriched 
with folic acid, in July of this year, CDC, SBA, the National Council 
of La Raza, Wal-Mart, and Gruma announced an important initiative that 
has the potential to reduce the incidence of Spina Bifida among all 
babies by 70 percent by helping increase the intake of this nutrient 
among women.
  With proper health care and support, people affected by Spina Bifida 
can live productive and fulfilling lives. In addition to supporting 
efforts to prevent Spina Bifida, I also urge additional federal 
attention to--and funding of--efforts, like the National Spina Bifida 
Program, to improve the quality-of-life for all who are affected by 
this birth defect. I would like to thank the SBA and its Florida 
chapters for their work on Spina Bifida Awareness Month and for being 
steadfast in their commitment to helping prevent and reduce Spina 
Bifida, particularly among the Hispanic community in the United States.

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