[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 1 (Thursday, January 3, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E5-E6]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    INTRODUCTION OF THE NEWBORN ACT

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                            HON. STEVE COHEN

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 3, 2019

  Mr. COHEN. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the Nationally 
Enhancing the Wellbeing of Babies through Outreach and Research Now 
(NEWBORN) Act, a bill I introduced today.
  In 2016, Tennessee had almost 600 children die before their first 
birthday, including over 120 in Shelby County. Shelby County's infant 
mortality rate was 9.3 per 1,000 live births, which was a 13 percent 
increase over 2015 and significantly higher than both Tennessee's rate 
of 7.4 percent and the national rate of 5.9 percent.
  In the United States, our infant mortality rate is comparable to 
countries like Bosnia, Chile, and Cuba, and an American child is 76 
percent more likely to die before their first birthday in America than 
in 19 other wealthy nations, including Australia, Canada, France, 
Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
  Even more concerning is the racial and ethnic infant mortality 
disparities that continue to exist. In 2016, the rates for infant 
mortality was nearly double for African American infants compared to 
white infants in Tennessee.
  This is unacceptable. That's why I am introducing the NEWBORN Act.
  If enacted, the NEWBORN Act would create infant mortality-focused 
pilot programs in the highest-risk areas of the country.
  The pilot programs would focus on addressing one or more of the top 
five reasons for infant mortality: birth defects, preterm birth and low 
birth weight, sudden infant death syndrome, maternal pregnancy 
complications, and injuries to the infant.
  The NEWBORN Act would specifically encourage the development of 
community-specific practices to promote pre-natal care and community 
outreach and education.
  The current infant mortality rates are tragic, but good practices can 
improve health and save lives.
  I urge my colleagues to help pass this bill.

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