[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 41 (Wednesday, March 20, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2036-S2037]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 85--DESIGNATING APRIL 2013 AS ``NATIONAL CONGENITAL 
                 DIAPHRAGMATIC HERNIA AWARENESS MONTH''

  Mr. SESSIONS (for himself and Mr. Cardin) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to.:

                               S. Res. 85

       Whereas congenital diaphragmatic hernia occurs when the 
     diaphragm fails to fully form, allowing abdominal organs to 
     migrate

[[Page S2037]]

     into the chest cavity and prevent lung growth;
       Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
     defines congenital diaphragmatic hernia as a birth defect;
       Whereas congenital diaphragmatic hernia occurs in 1 of 
     every 2,500 births;
       Whereas congenital diaphragmatic hernia affects 
     approximately 1,600 babies each year in the United States;
       Whereas the majority of congenital diaphragmatic hernia 
     patients have underdeveloped lungs or poor pulmonary 
     function;
       Whereas congenital diaphragmatic hernia patients often 
     endure long-term complications, including pulmonary 
     hypertension, pulmonary hypoplasia, asthma, gastrointestinal 
     reflex, feeding disorders, and developmental delays;
       Whereas congenital diaphragmatic hernia survivors sometimes 
     endure long-term mechanical ventilation dependency, skeletal 
     malformations, supplemental oxygen dependency, enteral and 
     parenteral nutrition, and hypoxic brain injury;
       Whereas congenital diaphragmatic hernia patients have a 
     survival rate ranging from 62 percent to 90 percent depending 
     on the severity of the defect, the treatment available at 
     delivery, and whether extracorporeal membrane oxygenation 
     must be used;
       Whereas congenital diaphragmatic hernia has affected more 
     than 600,000 babies throughout the world since 2000;
       Whereas babies born with congenital diaphragmatic hernia 
     endure extended hospital stays in intensive care with 
     multiple surgeries;
       Whereas congenital diaphragmatic hernia is as common a 
     birth defect as spina bifida and cystic fibrosis;
       Whereas congenital diaphragmatic hernia is diagnosed in 
     utero in only 75 percent of cases;
       Whereas congenital diaphragmatic hernia is treated through 
     mechanical ventilation, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation 
     machines (commonly known as ``heart and lung bypass 
     machines'') and surgical repair;
       Whereas patients often outgrow congenital diaphragmatic 
     hernia surgical repair, leading to reherniation and requiring 
     additional surgery;
       Whereas the occurrence of congenital diaphragmatic hernia 
     does not discriminate based on race, gender, or socioeconomic 
     status;
       Whereas the cause of congenital diaphragmatic hernia is 
     unknown;
       Whereas the average hospital bill for a congenital 
     diaphragmatic hernia patient is $500,000; and
       Whereas the total annual cost of medical care for children 
     with congenital diaphragmatic hernia in the United States is 
     more than $800,000,000: Now, therefore be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates April 2013 as ``National Congenital 
     Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness Month'';
       (2) declares that steps should be taken to--
       (A) raise awareness of and increase public knowledge about 
     congenital diaphragmatic hernia;
       (B) inform minority populations in the United States about 
     congenital diaphragmatic hernia;
       (C) disseminate information on the importance of good 
     neonatal care for congenital diaphragmatic hernia patients;
       (D) promote good prenatal care and the use of ultrasounds 
     to detect congenital diaphragmatic hernia in utero; and
       (E) encourage research on congenital diaphragmatic hernia 
     in order to discover its causes, develop treatments, and find 
     a cure; and
       (3) calls on the people of the United States, interest 
     groups, and affected persons to--
       (A) promote awareness of congenital diaphragmatic hernia;
       (B) take an active role in the fight against this 
     devastating birth defect; and
       (C) observe National Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia 
     Awareness Month with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

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