[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 133 (Wednesday, September 29, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1827-E1828]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       BIRTH DEFECT PREVENTION, RISK REDUCTION, AND AWARENESS ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ROSA L. DeLAURO

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 29, 2010

  Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, one out of every 33 babies born in our 
country suffers from a birth defect, and one out of every five infant 
deaths in America is the result of a defect. Even those children who 
survive a defect grow up with a greater chance of illness and long-term 
disability. Perhaps most tragic of all, there are many times when these 
defects could be readily prevented.

[[Page E1828]]

  That is why I rise in support today of H.R. 5462, the Birth Defect 
Prevention, Risk Reduction, and Awareness Act of 2010. This legislation 
establishes a grant program to revitalize the Nation's network of 
pregnancy risk information services.
  These services offer pregnant women and their health care providers 
information and consultation regarding exposures to medications, 
chemicals, infections, and illnesses that may pose a risk of birth 
defects, a risk to the pregnancy, or a risk to the mother while 
pregnant. They also provide similar information on exposures during 
breastfeeding.
  Fifteen years ago, there were over 30 such services across the 
country. Today, there are fewer than 15. State and private funding has 
provided inadequate support, and even those that remain open have 
sustained budget cuts of as much as 60 percent. And there are currently 
no Federal programs to provide support for these counseling services.
  This bill remedies that oversight. It gives mothers the information 
they need to protect their children. And it will help reduce the 
frequency of birth defects in our Nation. I urge my colleagues to 
support it.

                          ____________________