[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 476 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]
108th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. RES. 476
Supporting the goals, activities, and ideals of National Prematurity
Awareness Month.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
November 19, 2004
Mr. Alexander (for himself and Mr. Dodd) submitted the following
resolution; which was considered and agreed to
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Supporting the goals, activities, and ideals of National Prematurity
Awareness Month.
Whereas preterm birth is a serious and growing problem;
Whereas, between 1982 and 2002, the rate of preterm birth increased 27 percent;
Whereas, in 2002, more than 480,000 babies were born prematurely in the United
States;
Whereas 25 percent of all babies that die in the first month of life were born
preterm;
Whereas premature infants are 14 times more likely to die in the first year of
life;
Whereas premature babies who survive may suffer lifelong consequences, including
cerebral palsy, mental retardation, chronic lung disease, and vision and
hearing loss;
Whereas preterm birth and low birthweight are a significant financial burden in
health care;
Whereas, in 2002, the estimated charges for hospital stays for infants with a
diagnosis of preterm birth or low birthweight were $15,500,000,000, a 12
percent increase since 2001;
Whereas the average lifetime medical costs of a premature baby are
conservatively estimated at $500,000;
Whereas the cause of approximately half of all preterm births is unknown;
Whereas women who smoke during pregnancy are twice as likely as women who do not
smoke during pregnancy to give birth to a low birthweight baby, and
babies born to women who smoke during pregnancy weigh, on average, 200
grams less than babies born to women who do not smoke during pregnancy;
and
Whereas to reduce the rates of preterm labor and delivery more research is
needed on the underlying causes of preterm delivery, prevention of
preterm birth so that babies are born full-term, and treatments
improving outcomes for infants born prematurely: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate recognizes during the month of November,
2004, activities and programs that promote awareness of and solutions
to the dangers of preterm birth across the United States.
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