[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 17]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 23451]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




      RECOGNIZING OCTOBER AS NATIONAL SPINA BIFIDA AWARENESS MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. HAROLD E. FORD, JR.

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 8, 2004

  Mr. FORD. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to pay 
tribute to the more than 70,000 Americans and their many family members 
who are currently affected by Spina Bifida. October is National Spina 
Bifida Awareness Month and I hope our colleagues will join this effort 
to raise awareness about this disease and recognize those Americans, 
including many of my constituents.
  Spina Bifida is the Nation's most common, permanently disabling birth 
defect occurring when a neural tube defect prevents the central nervous 
system from closing properly during the early stages of pregnancy. Each 
year more than 4,000 pregnancies are affected, and of these, 1,500 
babies are born with the disease.
  I was honored to be a part of the 16th Annual Roast for Spina Bifida 
on September 26th. During that dinner, Senator Lindsey Graham, Redskins 
owner Dan Snyder, and I roasted former CNN Anchor Bernard Shaw. I am 
pleased to report that even under fire, a now retired Shaw was as cool, 
calm, and collected as he had been during his time on CNN. He was truly 
a fantastic sport.
  The Spina Bifida Association of America (SBAA), an organization that 
has helped people with Spina Bifida and their families for over 30 
years, work tirelessly to prevent and reduce suffering from this 
devastating birth defect. There are approximately 60 chapters serving 
over 125 communities nationwide and I would like to acknowledge and 
thank SBAA and the Spina Bifida Association of Tennessee for all that 
they have done for the families in my state affected by this birth 
defect. I would especially like to thank Scott Price of Nashville, a 
Spina Bifida Association Foundation Board member for his great work.
  In closing, I would like to thank the Spina Bifida Association of 
America for allowing me to be a part of their roast and wish them the 
best of luck in their endeavors throughout the year. I urge my 
colleagues here in the House to support the important efforts of the 
SBAA and to remember those affected by Spina Bifida, particularly 
during this month.

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