[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 41 (Wednesday, March 20, 2013)]
[House]
[Page H1643]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       NEWBORN SCREENING SAVES LIVES REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2013

  (Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Newborn 
Screening Saves Lives Reauthorization Act.
  In 2008, with strong bipartisan support, Congressman Simpson and I 
introduced the original bill that was signed into law that year. For 
the first time in history, a scientific method for adding newborn 
screenings to State programs was established.
  Prior to enactment of this law, only 10 States and the District of 
Columbia required infants to be screened for all the recommended 
disorders. Today, 44 States and the District of Columbia require 
screening of at least 29 of the 31 core treatable conditions. 
Unfortunately, critical gaps and challenges remain.
  The reauthorization bill establishes a grant program to assist States 
in developing followup and tracking programs and renews the Secretary's 
Advisory Committee for Heritable Disorders.
  I urge my colleagues to cosponsor this vital legislation. No child 
should die or suffer from preventable disabilities which could have 
been detected at birth.

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