Supporting the goals and ideals of Infant Mortality Awareness Month.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, the term ``infant mortality rate'' is given to the number of infant deaths during the first 12 months of life for every 100,000 births. In the United States, infant mortality increased in 2002 for the first time in more than four decades. The rate reached seven deaths per 1,000 live births, which was the first increase since 1958.

American babies are three times more likely to die during their first month of life than children born in

Japan, and newborn mortality is 2\1/2\ times higher in the United States than in Finland, Iceland, or Norway. Only Latvia, with six deaths per 1,000 live births, has a higher death rate for newborns than the United States, and Latvia is near the bottom of the list of industrialized nations, tied with Hungary, Malta, Poland, and Slovakia with five deaths per 1,000 births.

Newborn death rates are higher among American minorities and disadvantaged groups. For African Americans, the mortality rate is nearly double that of the United States as a whole, with 9.3 deaths per 1,000 births.

The primary causes of infant mortality are premature birth and low birth weight. A common reason for low birth weight infant mortality includes respiratory distress syndrome, which may involve a collapsed lung, low oxygen absorption, and high carbon dioxide level.

All children, regardless of where they are born and regardless of their race or ethnic group, deserve a healthy start in life. Mr. Speaker, I have always been told that if infant mortality rates are high, it means that the quality of life is low. If infant mortality rates are low, then it means that the quality of life is high.

It is pretty obvious, Mr. Speaker, that we need to do more to deal effectively across the board with the quality of life for people in our country, a great Nation, in an effort to make it even greater.

I strongly support this resolution and urge all of my colleagues to do so.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I know I talk slow, but I hope I won't take 3 minutes. But I appreciate the opportunity.

I mentioned just a moment ago that my specialty was gynecology, but there is another part to that, and it is the obstetrical part, the birth and babies part. So it is an honor and a pleasure to be here and to support H. Res. 402; and I want to thank my physician colleague in this House and another OB/GYN, Dr. Mike Burgess, Representative Burgess from Texas, who also practiced OB/GYN for 17 years, for bringing this resolution; and, also, of course, my colleague from Georgia, Representative Westmoreland; and my good friend from Chicago, Illinois, Mr. Davis.

Mr. Davis just said it perfectly. When you lose babies in the first year of life at the rate of 7 per 1,000 live births and we are 28th among industrialized nations and we brag about the fact that we have the greatest health care system in the world, there is something wrong with that picture. And, as he pointed out, it is even worse for African American minorities; and the big problem, of course, is lack of prenatal care. Deaths occur because of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. We are still struggling to figure out why that occurs, but we clearly know why prematurity occurs, low birth weight babies that Representative Davis was talking about, and we can do something about that.

So this resolution is very timely, supporting the goals and ideals of Infant Mortality Awareness Month; and I just want to thank the gentleman for letting me put in my 2 cents worth in regard to this very, very important issue.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 402) supporting the goals and ideals of Infant Mortality Awareness Month, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, in 2002 infant mortality rates increased in the United States for the first time in more than four decades. There are approximately seven deaths per every 1,000 live births, and this recent increase is absolutely a troubling development.

The Secretary of Health and Human Services has designated 2010 as a year by which several health objectives should be met, including objectives to decrease infant mortality rates.

Mr. Speaker, the Nation currently observes the month of October as Sudden Infant Death Awareness Month and November as Prematurity Awareness Month. It is fitting to observe September of 2006 as Infant Mortality Awareness Month, and I urge my colleagues to support House Resolution 402, as amended, to do just that.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to my distinguished colleague from Georgia, Dr. Gingrey.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support the adoption of House Resolution 402, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time