[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 133 (Wednesday, September 16, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1300]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  IN SUPPORT OF GROWTH AWARENESS WEEK

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. DENNY HECK

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 16, 2015

  Mr. HECK of Washington. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor Growth 
Awareness Week.
  How much a child grows is a major sign of his or her overall health. 
If a child is failing to grow, it could mean that they are developing 
serious medical problems. A child's height (either too much or too 
little for their age) is one of nature's early warning signs--a visual 
alarm for parents and physicians. According to the Pictures of Standard 
Syndromes and Undiagnosed Malformations (POSSUM) database, more than 
600 serious diseases and health conditions cause growth failure.
  Many conditions which interfere with children's growth are treatable, 
but according to the MAGIC Foundation for children's growth, 
unfortunately 48% of children in the U.S. who were evaluated with the 
two most common causes of growth failure went undiagnosed.
  The longer a child with growth failure goes undiagnosed, the greater 
the potential for damage and higher costs of care. Early detection and 
diagnosis are crucial in ensuring a healthy future for a child with 
growth failure.
  Last year I was pleased that Congress recognized ``Growth Awareness 
Week'' as the third week in September 2014. So today I ask my 
colleagues to join me in permanently recognizing the third week in 
September as ``Growth Awareness Week'' and to continue to raise public 
awareness of growth failure to improve the lives and health of 
children.

                          ____________________