[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 186 (Tuesday, November 27, 2018)]
[House]
[Page H9578]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                RECOGNIZING PREMATURITY AWARENESS MONTH

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Kansas (Mr. Marshall) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. Speaker, November is Prematurity Awareness Month, 
and as the number of preterm births continues to rise in the United 
States, it is important to acknowledge this serious issue.
  In my own experience as an obstetrician having delivered over 5,000 
babies, I have seen firsthand the seriousness of early birth. Premature 
birth is still the number one cause of infant mortality in the United 
States and around the world. Advancements in detection and care for 
infants born early have not made the same strides that other areas of 
the medical field have.
  The premature birth rate in Kansas is right below the national 
average of 9.93, meaning that approximately 1 in every 10 babies is 
born premature. In the coming weeks, Congress has the opportunity to 
act and pass the PREEMIE Reauthorization Act of 2018 and help those who 
cannot yet help themselves.


                 Recognizing Kansas Guardsmen Overseas

  Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. Speaker, this past holiday weekend, I had the 
pleasure, the opportunity, to travel to the Middle East and to the Horn 
of Africa. Specifically, I got to visit with some 700 Kansas National 
Guardsmen from the 2nd 137th Combined Arms Battalion and Battery C, 
161st Field Artillery. These guardsmen have been deployed since April 
in support of Operation Enduring Freedom Spartan Shield.
  I am often asked what was the purpose of my trip. Why do Congressmen 
do these trips?
  First of all, I think it is important that, as a Congressman, I bring 
these troops a message of hope and thanks and let them know personally 
that we do care and are grateful for their service and the sacrifices 
they are making for this country.
  Next, my goal was to check on the mental and physical well-being of 
our troops. Despite talking to hundreds of our soldiers, I cannot get 
one of them to register one complaint. Specifically, I thought their 
mental health was outstanding, that they were all in good spirits and, 
indeed, had great hope. Physically, their nutrition appeared to be well 
attended to. Their medical and dental needs were well attended to as 
well.
  My one concern, perhaps, would be the housing. And though no soldier 
complained about housing, when you are there for a year at a time, I do 
think we could supply our soldiers with better housing.
  Today, we are reminded of the dangers of serving in our military as 
we lost three soldiers to a roadside bomb in Afghanistan. Certainly, my 
sympathy goes out to the families. I know the words that I can express 
will never be enough, but I would say this: Today we are also reminded 
once again that freedom is not free.

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