[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 114 (Friday, July 30, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6543-S6544]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               NATIONAL INFANT MORTALITY AWARENESS MONTH

  Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 602, submitted 
earlier today.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will read the resolution 
by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 602) expressing support for the goals 
     and ideals of National Infant Mortality Awareness Month 2010.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motions to 
reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or 
debate, and any statements related to the resolution be printed in the 
Record.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 602) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 602

       Whereas ``infant mortality'' refers to the death of a baby 
     before the baby's first birthday;
       Whereas the United States ranks 29th among industrialized 
     countries in the rate of infant mortality;
       Whereas premature birth, low birth weight, and shorter 
     gestation periods account for more than 60 percent of infant 
     deaths in the United States;
       Whereas high rates of infant mortality are especially 
     prevalent in communities with large minority populations, 
     high rates of unemployment and poverty, and limited access to 
     safe housing and medical providers;

[[Page S6544]]

       Whereas premature birth is a leading cause of infant 
     mortality and, according to the Institute of Medicine of the 
     National Academies, costs the United States more than 
     $26,000,000,000 annually;
       Whereas infant mortality can be substantially reduced 
     through community-based services such as outreach, home 
     visitation, case management, health education, and 
     interconceptional care;
       Whereas support for community-based programs to reduce 
     infant mortality can result in lower future spending on 
     medical interventions, special education, and other social 
     services that may be needed for infants and children who are 
     born with a low birth weight;
       Whereas the Department of Health and Human Services, 
     through the Office of Minority Health, has implemented the 
     ``A Healthy Baby Begins With You'' campaign;
       Whereas the Maternal and Child Health Bureau of the Health 
     Resources and Services Administration has provided national 
     leadership on the issue of infant mortality;
       Whereas public awareness and education campaigns on infant 
     mortality are held during the month of September each year; 
     and
       Whereas September 2010 has been designated as ``National 
     Infant Mortality Awareness Month'': Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) supports the goals and ideals of National Infant 
     Mortality Awareness Month 2010;
       (2) supports efforts to educate people in the United States 
     about infant mortality and the contributing factors to infant 
     mortality;
       (3) supports efforts to reduce infant deaths, low birth 
     weight, pre-term births, and disparities in perinatal 
     outcomes;
       (4) recognizes the critical importance of including efforts 
     to reduce infant mortality and the contributing factors to 
     infant mortality as part of prevention and wellness 
     strategies; and
       (5) calls upon the people of the United States to observe 
     National Infant Mortality Awareness Month with appropriate 
     programs and activities.

  Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, I yield the floor.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Ohio.
  Mr. VOINOVICH. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak for up 
to 20 minutes.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.

                          ____________________