[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 143 (Friday, September 23, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Page S5950]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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 SENATE RESOLUTION 276--EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF 
           NATIONAL INFANT MORTALITY AWARENESS MONTH OF 2011

  Mr. CARDIN (for himself, Mr. Burr, and Mr. Menendez) submitted the 
following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 276

       Whereas ``infant mortality'' refers to the death of a baby 
     before his or her first birthday;
       Whereas the United States ranks 41st among industrialized 
     countries in the rate of infant mortality;
       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;
       Whereas premature birth is a leading cause of infant 
     mortality;
       Whereas according to the Institute of Medicine of the 
     National Academies, premature birth 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 2011 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 2011;
       (2) supports efforts to educate people in the United States 
     about infant mortality and the factors that contribute 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 factors that contribute 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.

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