[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Pages 17579-17580]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




           NEWBORN SCREENING SAVES LIVES REAUTHORIZATION ACT

  Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, I applaud the passage of the Newborn 
Screening Saves Lives Reauthorization Act. Across the United States, 
newborns are screened routinely for certain genetic, metabolic, 
hormonal and functional disorders. Most of these birth defects have no 
immediate visible effects on a baby but, unless detected and treated 
early, they can cause serious physical problems, developmental 
disability and, in some cases, death.
  Fortunately, most infants are given a clean bill of health when 
tested. In cases where newborns are found to have metabolic disorders 
or hearing impairment, early diagnosis and proper treatment are crucial 
in making the difference between healthy development and lifelong 
infirmity.

[[Page 17580]]

  Newborn screening has been saving lives for more than 50 years, but 
programs vary from State to State. To address disparity among States' 
newborn screening capabilities, Congress passed the original Newborn 
Screening Saves Lives Act of 2008, P.L. 110-204, legislation I 
sponsored with Senator Chris Dodd. The law established national newborn 
screening guidelines and helped facilitate comprehensive newborn 
screening in every State in America and the District of Columbia.
  Before passage, some States offered as few as only four of the 
recommended tests, and only 11 States and D.C. required the recommended 
screening for all disorders. Today, 42 States and D.C. require 
screening for at least 29 of the 31 treatable core conditions, and both 
parents and physicians are more aware of the availability and necessity 
of newborn screening.
  To maintain the important work of newborn screening programs, I am a 
proud sponsor of the Newborn Screening Saves Lives Reauthorization Act 
of 2013. This legislation will allow States to continue improving their 
programs to help medical providers promptly diagnose and treat 
conditions which could result otherwise in irreversible brain damage, 
permanent disability, or death.
  I very much appreciate and commend the hard work of my colleagues and 
their staffs here in the Congress, the administration, and the public 
health community to ensure that this program will continue to help 
States provide critical, timely, and lifesaving newborn screening for 
our youngest Americans.

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