[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 133 (Wednesday, September 29, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1775]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   NATIONALLY ENHANCING THE WELLBEING OF BABIES THROUGH OUTREACH AND 
                            RESEARCH NOW ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. DANNY K. DAVIS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 22, 2010

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I wish to take a moment to state 
my strong support for H.R. 3470, the Nationally Enhancing the Wellbeing 
of Babies through Outreach and Research Now--or the NEWBORN Act. This 
bill authorizes grants to create, implement, and oversee infant 
mortality pilot programs. These grants could support a number of 
important activities to reduce our national infant mortality rate, 
including: educational outreach to at-risk mothers; development and 
implementation of standardized systems for improved access and 
services; and regional public education campaigns.
  In order to fully understand the importance of this act, I believe 
our country needs to take a moment to reflect upon our infant mortality 
rate of 6.7 per thousand live births. The United States currently has 
one of the highest infant mortality rates among industrialized 
nations--higher than Cuba or Japan. Although the infant mortality rate 
has declined over time, this rate is unacceptably high and tragic 
because many of these infant deaths are preventable when mothers 
receive adequate care and education. Access to quality prenatal 
healthcare and parenting education greatly reduces many of the risk 
factors that contribute to infant mortality, such as low birth weight 
and short gestational age births.
  It is of serious concern that great disparity exists in infant 
mortality rates across our country based on geographic location and 
racial/ethnic minority status. According to the Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention, the infant mortality rate is much higher in the 
Southeastern and Midwestern regions of our Nation. In my home State of 
Illinois in 2006 is 7.29 per thousand live births, well above the 
national average. For African Americans, the infant mortality rate is 
13.35, almost double the national average and almost triple the 
national average for Latino and White children. We cannot allow these 
disparities to continue. We cannot continue to allow particular groups 
of our citizens to lose their children at higher rates than others. We 
must work to dramatically reduce these deaths for all Americans.
  These numbers reflect the need for federal legislation to increase 
access to quality prenatal care. I am proud to have played an active 
role in creating a dedicated funding stream for the home visiting to 
support families with or expecting young children. Authorized by the 
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Law, the new Maternal, Infant, 
and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program will provide grants to States 
to provide evidence-based home visitation services to improve outcomes 
for children and families who reside in at-risk communities. Research 
shows that these programs are effective at improving the health and 
well-being of children and families.
  It is federal investments in home visiting and in the NEWBORN Act 
that will help improve children's well-being and lower the infant 
mortality rate. I stand in strong support of the NEWBORN Act and urge 
my colleagues to vote in favor of this bill.

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