[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 19]
[House]
[Page 25984]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              PREEMIE ACT

  (Mr. GINGREY asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GINGREY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of National 
Prematurity Awareness Day. I stand with parents and physicians, 
organizations and associations around our country that are working to 
draw attention to the serious and growing problem of premature birth.
  Nearly 500,000 babies will be born prematurely this year. In my own 
State of Georgia, 342 premature babies will be born this week. It is a 
serious problem, one that is far too common. Unfortunately, in most 
cases, we do not know why it happens.
  From my experience as an OB-GYN physician for nearly 30 years, I know 
the anxiety, confusion, frustration and concern that premature birth 
places on both the families as well as the medical system. That is why 
I am a proud cosponsor of H.R. 2861, the PREEMIE Act, which was 
introduced by my friend and colleague from Michigan (Mr. Upton).
  Mr. Speaker, I am here today not only to encourage my colleagues to 
cosponsor this important piece of legislation but also to let the women 
in our country know how important it is to talk to their doctors about 
the risk factors associated with pre-term birth. Together, we can work 
to find a solution to this very costly crisis.

                          ____________________