IV 

109TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 305 

Supporting the goals and ideals of the National Congenital Heart Defect 

Awareness Week. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JUNE 7, 2005 

Mr. ANDREWS submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on Energy and Commerce 

RESOLUTION 

Supporting the goals and ideals of the National Congenital 

Heart Defect Awareness Week. 

Whereas congenital heart defects and diseases (‘‘CHDs’’) are 

the most common of all birth defects, affecting 40,000 

newborns in the United States each year; 

Whereas CHDs are the number one cause of birth defect-related deaths, and many children and adults die of congenital heart defect complications due to the severity of 

the defect, failure of early diagnosis, lack of heart transplant donors, and insufficient knowledge of medical intervention options; 

Whereas there is still no known cause of CHDs and, therefore, no identifiable way to recommend preventive measures during pregnancy; 
2 

•HRES 305 IH 

Whereas there are more than 35 recognized heart defects and 

diseases that may present as congenital cardiovascular 

malformations, a disorder of the myocardial function, or 

a disorder of electrical conduction; 

Whereas the causes of and most of the treatments for CHDs 

are distinctly different from acquired heart disease, necessitating specialized research and medical treatment 

that reach beyond the scope of acquired heart disease; 

Whereas despite the strides that have been made in understanding and treating this disorder, more resources are 

needed for education and research to meet the needs of 

patients and their families; 

Whereas not addressing the care of adults with CHDs and 

the lack of research and physicians specializing in this 

area will eventually create a medical crisis for these 

adults as their medical needs grow; 

Whereas raising public awareness will alert parents and physicians to the symptoms of CHDs, thereby prompting 

them to seek specialized medical care in a timely manner 

and saving lives; 

Whereas those who have lost their battles with CHDs, and 

those who continue to face the medical and financial constraints placed on CHDs survivors and their loved ones, 

deserve to be recognized and commemorated; 

Whereas each year the Congenital Heart Information Network recognizes February 7 through February 14 as National Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week; and 

Whereas medical professionals and researchers who seek to 

learn more about the development of the heart to find innovative methods of treating CHDs, and to improve the 

quality of life for survivors, should be recognized and 
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•HRES 305 IH 

honored by our thanks and increased funding: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) supports the goals and ideals of the Na3 tional Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week 

4 sponsored by the Congenital Heart Information Net5 work; 

6 (2) supports efforts to reinvigorate research on 

7 congenital heart defects and diseases (‘‘CHDs’’) 

8 through increasing funding for such research, there9 by attracting the best and the brightest researchers 

10 and physicians to the field; 

11 (3) supports the education of parents and the 

12 medical community on CHDs symptoms and on the 

13 importance of newborn screenings for such symp14 toms, which may potentially save and improve the 

15 lives of countless newborns, children, and adults; 

16 (4) encourages awareness of the often life-long 

17 medical, financial, and emotional toll faced by CHDs 

18 victims, survivors, and their loved ones; and 

19 (5) requests that the President issue a procla20 mation for all Americans to acknowledge, celebrate 

21 and honor CHDs survivors, families, medical profes22 sionals, and researchers. 

Æ