IV 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 1237 

Recognizing ‘‘Necrotizing Enterocolitis Awareness Day’’. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 16, 2024 

Mr. THOMPSON of California (for himself and Mr. KILEY) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and 

Commerce 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing ‘‘Necrotizing Enterocolitis Awareness Day’’. 

Whereas necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is the most common 

cause of death in hospitalized premature infants after 

two weeks of age; 

Whereas babies born prematurely or with a medical complication, like congenital heart disease, are most at risk of 

NEC; 

Whereas thousands of babies develop NEC each year and 

hundreds of babies die from this complex condition; 

Whereas necrotizing enterocolitis causes a severe inflammatory process that can lead to intestinal tissue damage 

and death and, once NEC is diagnosed, many babies only 

live for a few hours or days; 


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•HRES 1237 IH 

Whereas surgery for NEC is not curative, and the babies who 

survive often have lifelong neurological and nutritional 

complications; 

Whereas necrotizing enterocolitis results in approximately 

$5,000,000,000 of hospitalization expenses per year and 

roughly 19 percent of neonatal health care expenditures 

in the United States, with an estimated cost of $200,000 

or more for each case of surgical necrotizing enterocolitis; 

Whereas breast milk is one of the most effective ways to help 

prevent necrotizing enterocolitis in medically fragile infants, and when the mother’s milk is unavailable, pasteurized donor human milk is the next-safest option for 

babies at risk of NEC; 

Whereas formula does not protect against the risk of NEC 

in medically fragile infants, and infants at risk of NEC 

receive the most protection from their mother’s own milk 

and pasteurized donor milk; 

Whereas, although the risk of necrotizing enterocolitis cannot 

be fully eliminated and there are not yet sure ways to 

stop or cure NEC, preventative measures are effective at 

reducing risks; 

Whereas parents must be trusted and valued as the most important member of their baby’s care team, and health 

care providers should partner with families to provide the 

best care for infants at risk of NEC; 

Whereas necrotizing enterocolitis can develop in both premature babies and babies born at term, and more data 

are desperately needed to better understand how and why 

NEC occurs in preterm and term infants; 

Whereas disparities and variation in care lead to Black infants being disproportionately affected by, and dying 


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from, necrotizing enterocolitis compared to White infants; 

and 

Whereas to build a world without necrotizing enterocolitis 

and improve outcomes for infants and families, we must 

bring Americans together to raise awareness about this 

devastating neonatal disease: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) recognizes the importance of raising aware3 ness about necrotizing enterocolitis; and 

4 (2) expresses support for the designation of 

5 ‘‘Necrotizing Enterocolitis Awareness Day’’. 

Æ 


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