[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 2]
[House]
[Page 1670]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              CONGENITAL HEART FUTURES REAUTHORIZATION ACT

  (Mr. BILIRAKIS asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, as February is recognized as Heart Month, 
I rise on behalf of the nearly 40,000 babies born each year with 
congenital heart defects, CHD. CHD is the most common birth defect and 
the number one cause of birth defect-related deaths.
  A few decades ago babies born with CHD were not living into 
adulthood. Now, due to continued investment and research and a series 
of medical breakthroughs, 90 percent of babies born with CHD are living 
into adulthood. Let's makes it 100 percent.
  There is still work to be done, and we must ensure these efforts to 
improve the lives of those with CHD continue. This is why I introduced 
the Congenital Heart Futures Reauthorization Act, to spend CHD 
research, raise awareness of the importance of specialized care, and 
ensure important research continues.
  We must advance this legislation for the millions of Americans who 
need our help.

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