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[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 305 Introduced in House (IH)]

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;
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 honored by our thanks and increased funding: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved,  That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports the goals and ideals of the National 
        Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week sponsored by the 
        Congenital Heart Information Network;
            (2) supports efforts to reinvigorate research on congenital 
        heart defects and diseases (``CHDs'') through increasing 
        funding for such research, thereby attracting the best and the 
        brightest researchers and physicians to the field;
            (3) supports the education of parents and the medical 
        community on CHDs symptoms and on the importance of newborn 
        screenings for such symptoms, which may potentially save and 
        improve the lives of countless newborns, children, and adults;
            (4) encourages awareness of the often life-long medical, 
        financial, and emotional toll faced by CHDs victims, survivors, 
        and their loved ones; and
            (5) requests that the President issue a proclamation for 
        all Americans to acknowledge, celebrate and honor CHDs 
        survivors, families, medical professionals, and researchers.
                                 <all>
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