IV 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 297 

Expressing support for designation of April 2017 as ‘‘National Congenital 

Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness Month’’. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 28, 2017 

Mr. HOLDING (for himself, Mr. CONNOLLY, and Mr. MEEHAN) submitted the 

following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and 

Commerce 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing support for designation of April 2017 as ‘‘National Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness 

Month’’. 

Whereas congenital diaphragmatic hernia (referred to in this 

preamble as ‘‘CDH’’) occurs when the diaphragm fails to 

fully form, allowing abdominal organs to migrate into the 

chest cavity and preventing lung growth; 

Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recognizes CDH as a birth defect; 

Whereas the majority of CDH patients suffer from underdeveloped lungs or poor pulmonary function; 

Whereas babies born with CDH endure extended hospital 

stays in intensive care with multiple surgeries; 


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•HRES 297 IH 

Whereas CDH patients often endure long-term complications, 

such as pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary hypoplasia, 

asthma, gastrointestinal reflux, feeding disorders, and developmental delays; 

Whereas CDH survivors sometimes endure long-term mechanical ventilation dependency, skeletal malformations, 

supplemental oxygen dependency, enteral and parenteral 

nutrition, and hypoxic brain injury; 

Whereas CDH is treated through mechanical ventilation, a 

heart and lung bypass (commonly known as 

‘‘extracorporeal membrane oxygenation’’), machines, and 

surgical repair; 

Whereas surgical repair is often not a permanent solution for 

CDH and can lead to reherniation and require additional 

surgery; 

Whereas CDH is diagnosed in utero in less than 50 percent 

of cases; 

Whereas infants born with CDH have a high mortality rate, 

ranging from 20 to 60 percent, depending on the severity 

of the defect and interventions available at delivery; 

Whereas CDH has a rate of occurrence of 1 in every 2,500 

live births worldwide; 

Whereas CDH affects approximately 1,600 babies each year 

in the United States; 

Whereas CDH has affected more than 700,000 babies worldwide since 2000; 

Whereas CDH does not discriminate based on race, gender, 

or socioeconomic status; 

Whereas the cause of CDH is unknown; 


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•HRES 297 IH 

Whereas the average CDH survivor will face postnatal care 

of at least $100,000; and 

Whereas Federal support for CDH research at the National 

Institutes of Health for 2017 is estimated to be not more 

than $4,000,000: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) supports the designation of ‘‘National Con3 genital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness Month’’; 

4 (2) encourages that steps should be taken to— 

5 (A) raise awareness of and increase public 

6 knowledge about congenital diaphragmatic her7 nia (referred to in this resolution as ‘‘CDH’’); 

8 (B) inform the people of the United States 

9 about the dangers of CDH, especially those 

10 groups that may be disproportionately affected 

11 by CDH or have lower survival rates; 

12 (C) disseminate information on the impor13 tance of quality neonatal care of CDH patients; 

14 (D) promote quality prenatal care and 

15 ultrasounds to detect CDH in utero; and 

16 (E) support research funding of CDH to— 

17 (i) improve screening and treatment 

18 for CDH; 

19 (ii) discover the causes of CDH; and 

20 (iii) develop a cure for CDH; and 


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•HRES 297 IH 

1 (3) calls on the people of the United States, in2 terest groups, and affected persons to— 

3 (A) promote awareness of CDH; 

4 (B) take an active role in the fight against 

5 this devastating birth defect; and 

6 (C) observe National Congenital Diaphrag7 matic Hernia Awareness Month with appro8 priate ceremonies and activities. 

Æ 


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