[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 11]
[House]
[Page 15773]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



             CONCERN ABOUT SIDS AND NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBES

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Hayworth) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. HAYWORTH. Mr. Speaker, specific risk factors have been 
identified, and through identification and implementation of learned 
actions, there is a potential reduction in the incidence rate of SIDS 
by up to 40 percent. Infant mortality rates among Native Americans in 
Indian Health Service areas was 9.3 versus 7.6 in the United States for 
all races.
  Now, understand that among Native Americans, that means the incidence 
of infant mortality is 22 percent higher. The areas in Tucson, 
Aberdeen, and Nashville exceeded the U.S. rate by over 50 percent. 
Infant mortality for SIDS in Indian Health Service areas average 2.3 
times greater than all races in the United States, and three times the 
Caucasian rate.
  As I mentioned earlier, Mr. Speaker, the cause of SIDS is not known 
at this time. Researchers continue their important work to investigate 
and to understand and to try to prevent this syndrome. It is known that 
behavior modification and risk factor awareness has proven to reduce 
the incidence of SIDS by up to 40 percent.
  Mr. Speaker, we must look to partner with the Indian Health Service, 
Indian Health Service Area Health Boards, Tribal health departments, 
and Tribal Councils to develop culturally sensitive national, regional, 
and local SIDS risk reduction education programs. We must develop 
tribally sensitive behavior modification models in tribal-specific 
formats, improving communication and education to high-risk mothers and 
caregivers.
  Mr. Speaker, I would commend such organizations as CJ Foundation for 
SIDS as a model to raise awareness of the steps to reduce the risks of 
SIDS and to decrease the frequency of SIDS-related deaths.
  As indicated in recent study by the Center for Disease Control and 
Prevention, the disparity between the health of Native Americans and 
the rest of the population is ever widening.
  Mr. Speaker, we must work for public health for the special Tribal 
trust relationship between the Government of the United States and the 
sovereign Indian nations to help solve this problem, which falls 
disproportionately on the first Americans.

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