[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 96 (Wednesday, June 24, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7013-S7014]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   SENATE RESOLUTION 204--DESIGNATING MARCH 31, 2010, AS ``NATIONAL 
            CONGENITAL DIAPHRAGMATIC HERNIA AWARENESS DAY''

  Mr. VITTER submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
the Committee on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 204

       Whereas the congenital diaphragmatic hernia birth defect is 
     one of the most prevalent, life-threatening birth defects in 
     the United States;
       Whereas the congenital diaphragmatic hernia birth defect is 
     a severe, often deadly birth defect that has a devastating 
     impact, in both human and economic terms, affecting equally 
     people of all races, sexes, nationalities, geographic 
     locations, and income levels;
       Whereas the congenital diaphragmatic hernia birth defect 
     occurs in 1 in every 2,000 live births in the United States 
     and accounts for 8 percent of all major congenital anomalies;
       Whereas, in 2004, there were approximately 4,115,590 live 
     births in the United States, and in approximately 1,800 of 
     those live births, the congenital diaphragmatic hernia birth 
     defect occurred, causing countless additional friends, loved 
     ones, spouses, and caregivers to shoulder the physical, 
     emotional, and financial burdens the congenital diaphragmatic 
     hernia birth defect causes;
       Whereas there is no genetic indicator or any other 
     indicator available to predict the occurrence of the 
     congenital diaphragmatic hernia birth defect, other than 
     through the performance of an ultrasound during pregnancy;
       Whereas there is no consistent treatment or cure for the 
     congenital diaphragmatic hernia birth defect;
       Whereas the congenital diaphragmatic hernia birth defect is 
     a leading cause of neonatal death in the United States;
       Whereas 50 percent of the patients who do survive the 
     congenital diaphragmatic hernia birth defect have residual 
     health issues, resulting in a severe strain on pediatric 
     medical resources and on the delivery of health care services 
     in the United States;
       Whereas proactive diagnosis and the appropriate management 
     and care of fetuses afflicted with the congenital 
     diaphragmatic hernia birth defect minimize the incidence of 
     emergency situations resulting from the birth defect and 
     dramatically improve survival rates among people with the 
     birth defect;
       Whereas neonatal medical care is one of the most expensive 
     types of medical care provided in the United States and 
     patients with the congenital diaphragmatic hernia birth 
     defect stay in intensive care for approximately 60 to 90 
     days, costing millions of dollars, utilizing blood from local 
     blood banks, and requiring the most technically advanced 
     medical care;
       Whereas the congenital diaphragmatic hernia birth defect is 
     a birth defect that causes damage to the lungs and the 
     cardiovascular system;
       Whereas patients with the congenital diaphragmatic hernia 
     birth defect may have long-term health issues such as 
     respiratory insufficiency, gastroesophageal reflux, poor 
     growth, neurodevelopmental delay, behavior problems, hearing 
     loss, hernia recurrence, and orthopedic deformities;
       Whereas the severity of the symptoms and outcomes of the 
     congenital diaphragmatic hernia birth defect and the limited 
     public awareness of the birth defect cause many patients to 
     receive substandard care, to forego regular visits to 
     physicians, and not to receive good health or therapeutic 
     management that would help avoid serious complications in the 
     future, compromising the quality of life of those patients;
       Whereas people suffering from chronic, life-threatening 
     diseases and birth defects, similar to the congenital 
     diaphragmatic hernia birth defect, and family members of 
     those people are predisposed to depression and the resulting 
     consequences of depression because of anxiety over the 
     possible pain, suffering, and premature death that people 
     with such diseases and birth defects may face;
       Whereas the Senate and taxpayers of the United States want 
     treatments and cures for disease and hope to see results from 
     investments in research conducted by the National Institutes 
     of Health and from initiatives such as the National 
     Institutes of Health Roadmap to the Future;
       Whereas the congenital diaphragmatic hernia birth defect is 
     an example of how collaboration, technological innovation, 
     scientific momentum, and public-private partnerships can 
     generate therapeutic interventions that directly benefit the 
     people and

[[Page S7014]]

     families suffering from the congenital diaphragmatic hernia 
     birth defect;
       Whereas collaboration, technological innovation, scientific 
     momentum, and public-private partnerships can save billions 
     of Federal dollars under Medicare, Medicaid, and other 
     programs for therapies, and early intervention will increase 
     survival rates among people suffering from the congenital 
     diaphragmatic hernia birth defect;
       Whereas improvements in diagnostic technology, the 
     expansion of scientific knowledge, and better management of 
     care for patients with the congenital diaphragmatic hernia 
     birth defect already have increased survival rates in some 
     cases;
       Whereas there is still a need for more research and 
     increased awareness of the congenital diaphragmatic hernia 
     birth defect and for an increase in funding for that research 
     in order to provide a better quality of life to survivors of 
     the congenital diaphragmatic hernia birth defect, and more 
     optimism for the families and health care professionals who 
     work with children with the birth defect;
       Whereas there are thousands of volunteers nationwide 
     dedicated to expanding research, fostering public awareness 
     and understanding, educating patients and their families 
     about the congenital diaphragmatic hernia birth defect to 
     improve their treatment and care, providing appropriate moral 
     support, and encouraging people to become organ donors; and
       Whereas volunteers engage in an annual national awareness 
     event held on March 31, making that day an appropriate time 
     to recognize National Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia 
     Awareness Day: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates March 31, 2010, as ``National Congenital 
     Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness Day'';
       (2) supports the goals and ideals of a national day to 
     raise public awareness and understanding of the congenital 
     diaphragmatic hernia birth defect;
       (3) recognizes the need for additional research into a cure 
     for the congenital diaphragmatic hernia birth defect; and
       (4) encourages the people of the United States and 
     interested groups to support National Congenital 
     Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness Day through appropriate 
     ceremonies and activities, to promote public awareness of the 
     congenital diaphragmatic hernia birth defect, and to foster 
     understanding of the impact of the disease on patients and 
     their families.

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